A Slap in the Face: Clallam County Appoints Lorraine Rimson to Replace Disgraced Commissioner Brian Parker

Four months after the Clallam County Superior Court was forced to abruptly terminate Family Court Commissioner Brian Parker in the wake of a highly public scandal, the court has finally named his replacement.

But for the families relying on the local justice system, the new appointment offers little relief.

Lorraine Rimson has been selected to take the bench as the new Family Court Commissioner, effective June 1, 2026.

She will inherit a docket handling all family law pre-trial matters, civil protection order requests, and juvenile proceedings—a role that has been vacant since Parker’s unceremonious exit in February.

On paper, the court administration is touting Rimson’s extensive resume. Operating out of Port Townsend, Rimson has run her own private law firm focusing on family law.

She brings a stated 30 years of legal experience to the role, having served as the Jefferson County Superior Court Commissioner since March 2023, as well as a Commissioner for Clallam County District Court II, Jefferson County District Court, and a Jefferson County District Court Judge Pro Tem.

But for those who have actually witnessed Rimson in action, the resume only tells half the story.

Since January 2023, Rimson has served as a Commissioner Pro Tem (a substitute commissioner) for the Clallam County Superior Court.

During this time, those observing her courtroom have noted deeply alarming patterns. Among advocates and families who have navigated her courtroom, Rimson has cultivated a reputation for routinely siding with and supporting the perpetrators of abuse over the victims seeking protection.

In a judicial system tasked with safeguarding vulnerable families and children in crisis, installing a commissioner with a documented track record of supporting abusers is not just an administrative misstep—it is a devastating slap in the face to Clallam County.

The appointment raises serious, lingering questions about the judgment and priorities of the Clallam County court leadership.

It was less than two years ago that former-Presiding Judge Brent Basden and Court Administrator Lacey Halberg bypassed standard hiring safeguards to fast-track Brian Parker onto the bench.

Parker, who admitted to having no training in psychology, domestic violence, or sexual abuse, was hired despite an arrest by the Everett Police Department for perjury.

His tenure ended in disgrace following a slew of controversies, including stalking allegations, alleged public aggression against a resident and her child, and a community protest by the Handmaids outside the courthouse.

Following the Parker debacle, the public was owed a transparent, rigorous hiring process aimed at restoring trust and protecting the community. Instead, they have been handed Lorraine Rimson.

Once again, the evidence points to a systemic failure of leadership at the highest levels of our local judiciary.

By elevating a Pro Tem commissioner known for alienating victims and empowering perpetrators, the court has signaled that the lessons of the Brian Parker scandal have gone completely ignored.

We will monitor Rimson’s courtroom closely as she assumes her full-time role on June 1st.