By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Attorney Dale McBeth has been appointed the new judge for Chehalis Municipal Court, the city manager announced today.
McBeth, who has practiced law locally for some 35 years, has been serving as the city’s acting judge since Judge Steven Buzzard retired at the end of last month.
He has sat in as the pro tem judge for the past few years, according to City Manager Merlin MacReynold.
“His long experience in Lewis County and experience as our pro tem judge made him the best fit for the position and we look forward to his permanently stepping into the position July 1st,” MacReynold wrote in his announcement to the city council today.
McBeth was chosen from among four applicants, and his new job won’t be finalized until after he and the proposed contract are confirmed by the council. MacReynold will be seeking that confirmation at the June 27 meeting.
The Chehalis-based lawyer was just honored last month by Lewis County Bar Legal Aid for taking on the most pro bono cases last year locally.
Buzzard’s retirement led to a new municipal court judge in Centralia as well; his son James M.B. Buzzard was selected to fill that position the week before last.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter