Clallam County Superior Court Commissioner Brian Parker Accused of Stalking in Port Angeles; Arrested by Everett Police for Felony Perjury

When Brian Parker took the bench as a Clallam County Superior Court Commissioner on January 13, 2025, he was entrusted with significant judicial authority by then-Presiding Judge Basden, who appointed him to the position.

Court commissioners are unelected in Washington state. They serve at the pleasure of the judge who appoints them.

In this role, Parker exercises substantial power over the lives of Washington residents. Parker presides over most civil protection order hearings and family law matters. He also presides over the juvenile court, handles some initial hearings in criminal matters, issues arrest warrants, and he issues the initial orders in most eviction proceedings in the county.

Yet court commissioners are never accountable to the voters, despite holding substantial judicial power and authority over the lives, liberty, and property of the people of Washington.

The process that placed Parker in power has come under scrutiny as serious questions arise regarding his fitness for office and the integrity of the local courts.

For months, the Olympic Herald has investigated complaints regarding Commissioner Parker’s conduct, uncovering evidence that his alleged misconduct extends well beyond the walls of the Clallam County courtroom and into the Port Angeles community.

The investigation has brought to light a disturbing dichotomy: the man now responsible for ruling on civil protection orders is himself the subject of stalking accusations and was previously arrested by the Everett Police Department for First Degree Perjury.

Our findings describe a judicial officer who was arrested for lying under oath during a custody case, yet now sits in judgment of families in similar crises.

Arrested for Felony Perjury in Snohomish County and Accused of Stalking in Clallam County

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source who litigated in Parker’s court described a pattern of stalking, alleging that Parker “sought her out at her Port Angeles workplace on multiple occasions.”

As the Family Court Commissioner, Brian Parker presides over the Civil Protection Order docket in Clallam County. He handles hearings for Domestic Violence Protection Orders, Anti-Harassment Orders, and Stalking Protection Orders.

Before the allegations of stalking came to light, Brian Parker was the subject of a criminal investigation by the Everett Police Department for Perjury in the First Degree, a Class B Felony. The investigation stemmed from sworn testimony Parker gave while acting as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in a Snohomish County custody case.

The allegations centered on Parker’s truthfulness under oath. During a trial in May 2022, Parker testified unequivocally that a mother involved in the case had never requested he visit her home to interview her children. He stated on the record: “None of these statements are true... at no point prior to this did Ms. Yorks suggest that I interview the children in her home.”

Police investigation revealed this was a lie. Detectives obtained an email sent by the mother to Parker on April 27, 2021—over a year prior to his testimony—in which she explicitly asked: “Is there no way to have you come here to the house?”

When confronted by Detective Shelton over a year later, Parker claimed he “did not remember” the email, attributing the oversight to the volume of correspondence he received. However, the investigating officer found the evidence compelling enough to refer the case to the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney.

Officer Shelton concluded: “Based on the investigation, I am referring one count of Perjury 1st Degree on Brian Parker to the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney for charging consideration.”

The charge was later amended in police supplements to “Making a False or Misleading Statement to a Public Servant.” The core finding remains: a law enforcement officer concluded that the man now sitting as our Family Court Commissioner lied under oath in a family law proceeding.

Thus, in Clallam County, a commissioner referred by law enforcement for prosecution for lying under oath is responsible for weighing the truthfulness of sworn testimony in domestic violence cases. The same commissioner is accused of stalking and is tasked with determining the credibility of stalking victims.

Judge Brent Basden Appointed Commissioner Parker

The hiring of Commissioner Parker was marked by unusual speed, lowered standards, and a lack of due diligence, in stark contrast to standard hiring practices.

Internal records reveal that Judge Brent Basden actively directed the removal of standard employment safeguards for Parker. On November 1, 2024, Superior Court Administrator Lacey Halberg drafted Parker’s official hire letter and explicitly noted to HR, “I did not include the one-year probationary period as directed by the judges.”

This directive effectively granted Parker a level of job security immediately upon hiring that is typically reserved for vetted, long-term employees, bypassing the standard evaluation period used to ensure a new hire’s fitness for the role.

Under General Rule 29(f)(5)(c), Lacey Halberg, as court administrator, reported directly to Judge Basden, who was the presiding judge between January 2020 and December 2025. Basden was also listed as the “hiring manager” for Parker’s position.

Basden, as presiding judge, was further responsible for leading the management and administration of the court’s business, recommending policies and procedures that improve the court’s effectiveness, and allocating resources in a way that maximizes the court’s ability to resolve disputes fairly and expeditiously.

The process also lacked basic documentation. HR Specialist Alexander Gordash repeatedly flagged that the mandatory interview notes for the Family Court Commissioner position had not been uploaded to the county’s system.

When pressed to produce them, Halberg admitted, “I do not have any notes.” There is no record that these notes were ever produced, making it impossible to verify how Parker’s qualifications were assessed.

Judge Basden’s Push Despite “Late Breaking” Issues

Judge Basden’s determination to hire Parker appears to have overridden significant concerns raised during the vetting process. On October 8, 2024—nearly a month before the background check was officially completed—Basden acknowledged a “late breaking” issue regarding Parker in an email to Risk Manager Tom Reyes.

Basden minimized the matter, stating, “Honestly, much of what has been raised does not seem to be within the scope of a background check, but that is not our determination.”

Rather than pausing to fully investigate these new concerns, Basden pressured HR for a “tentative completion date,” emphasizing that Parker was already “actively shutting down his law practice” and “obtaining housing” based on the court’s conditional offer.

This pressure suggests the decision to hire was effectively made before the vetting was complete. Judge Basden “verbally gave the go ahead” to proceed with the official hiring on October 31, 2024, a full week before Risk Management officially confirmed the completion of the background investigation on November 6.

Parker Lacks Typical Qualifications for Family Court Commissioner

While Commissioner Parker is now tasked with navigating complex family dynamics and sensitive allegations of abuse, his background appears to lack the critical specialized training required for such a position.

Based on recommendations from professional organizations such as the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS), the ideal family court commissioner is characterized by a unique blend of specialized non-legal knowledge, a “therapeutic” judicial temperament, and proactive leadership. The commissioner should also be trained in psychology, in regards to handling domestic violence, sexual abuse, and mental health issues.

Yet prior to his hiring, Parker testified in a Snohomish County Proceeding, that he had “no training in psychology.” When I sought further verification of Parker’s qualifications, the administration’s response confirmed these concerns. In response to my administrative records request for records related to domestic violence or sexual abuse training received by Commissioner Parker, Halberg stated: “the Court has no records that are responsive to your request.”

This absence of critical training appears to be a systemic issue within the Clallam County Superior Court, stemming from Basden’s leadership. Halberg further revealed that then-Presiding Judge Basden—the “hiring manager” responsible for Parker’s appointment—had also not received training in handling domestic violence, sexual abuse, or CPS/DSHS complaints.

Basden’s approach to these sensitive matters has drawn scrutiny; last December, he notably stated that “law enforcement deepens the problem” when interviewing child victims of alleged abuse.

The consequences of this training deficit are felt in the safety of the community. Presumably, the lack of domestic violence or sexual abuse training, as well as Judge Basden’s blatant disregard for law enforcement has impacted the efficacy of the court’s response to domestic violence.

Parker’s appointment places the citizens of Clallam County in the hands of a judicial officer who has failed the most basic test of integrity—telling the truth under oath—and who lacks the specialized training to safely navigate the lives of the vulnerable families who appear before him.

The Accountability Gap: What Can Be Done?

The most disturbing aspect of this appointment is the lack of recourse for the citizens of Clallam County. Because Brian Parker is a commissioner, not a judge, he does not appear on your ballot. You cannot vote him out. He is shielded from the democratic process, accountable only to the judges who appointed him.

However, the public is not entirely without options. Judge Simon Barnhart, who assumed the role of Presiding Judge earlier this month, possesses the authority to remove Commissioner Parker from the bench. The Presiding Judge is responsible for the administration of the court and the supervision of its commissioners. Given the documented allegations of perjury and stalking, Judge Barnhart faces an immediate test of his leadership and commitment to judicial integrity.

Additionally, the state legislature holds the power to amend the statutes governing court commissioners. Legislative reform could remove the concept of appointed court commissioners and instead provide an election procedure identical to that of a judge.

Until action is taken, the residents of Clallam County are left with a judicial officer who was arrested for lying under oath, yet is empowered to decide who is telling the truth in our most sensitive legal battles. The integrity of the court—and the safety of the community—demands better.

On the other hand, Judge Basden was originally appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to a family court commissioner position. This happened in 2008, shortly after Basden lost the primary election in August 2007, receiving 22.98% of the vote. Then in 2018, Governor Inslee appointed Basden to Superior Court Judge after Judge Christopher Melly retired.

Basden has not won a contested election. He has run unopposed in each election that has occurred since his appointment by Inslee. But the voters have the ability to change that. They can vote Basden out, if they choose.

The Superior Court did not respond to multiple email requests for comment.