The Rise and Fall of Former Court Commissioner Brian Parker: A Timeline of Negligence and Corruption

Parker is No Longer Employed at Clallam County Superior Court

The tenure of Clallam County Superior Court Commissioner Brian Parker has come to an abrupt end. On February 10, 2026, the court administration confirmed that Parker is “no longer employed” by the county, effective immediately.

His departure marks the conclusion of a turbulent year for the Clallam County court system—a period defined by allegations of perjury, stalking, public aggression, and a hiring process that bypassed standard safeguards.

For months, the Olympic Herald has investigated how an attorney with a documented history of dishonesty was entrusted with the power to decide the fates of families in crisis. The evidence points not just to a flawed individual, but to a systemic failure of leadership at the highest levels of our local judiciary.

The Fast-Tracked Appointment

Brian Parker took the bench as the Family Court Commissioner on January 13, 2025. In this role, he was given substantial authority over civil protection orders, family law matters, and juvenile court proceedings.

However, the process that placed him there was anything but standard. Internal emails reveal that then-Presiding Judge Brent Basden actively directed the removal of standard employment safeguards.

On November 1, 2024, Court Administrator Lacey Halberg drafted Parker’s hire letter, explicitly noting to HR: “I did not include the one-year probationary period as directed by the judges.” This directive granted Parker immediate job security, bypassing the evaluation period typically used to ensure a new hire’s fitness for office.

Furthermore, when HR Specialist Alexander Gordash requested the mandatory interview notes for the position, Halberg admitted, “I do not have any notes,” making it impossible to verify how Parker’s qualifications were actually assessed.

Ignored Warnings: The Perjury Charge

Perhaps the most damning revelation is that the court was aware of Parker’s history of dishonesty before he was hired.

Prior to his appointment, Parker was the subject of a criminal investigation by the Everett Police Department for perjury in the first degree. The investigation stemmed from his time as a Guardian ad Litem in Snohomish County, where police concluded he lied under oath about a mother requesting a home visit.

The investigating officer concluded: “Based on the investigation, I am referring one count of Perjury 1st Degree on Brian Parker to the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney.” The charge was later amended to “Making a False or Misleading Statement to a Public Servant.”

Despite this, Clallam County HR investigator Tom Kuch wrote in an email to Judge Basden that there were “no disqualifying events” found in Parker’s background.

However, internal records contradict this “clean” finding. In an October 24, 2024 email to a concerned citizen, Kuch acknowledged: “I do have a copy of the Everett PD report regarding his being investigated for perjury... and I will forward your concerns to the people who do make the decision.”

Judge Basden was aware of these “late breaking” issues but pressed HR for a completion date anyway, noting that Parker was already closing his law practice based on the court’s offer.

A Tenure of Controversy

Once on the bench, Parker’s conduct quickly drew public ire.

• Lack of Qualifications: Parker admitted in prior testimony that he had “no training in psychology,” yet he was tasked with making critical decisions regarding mental health and family safety. The court confirmed it had no records of him receiving training in domestic violence or sexual abuse.

• Stalking Allegations: A source who litigated in Parker’s court alleged that he had “sought her out at her Port Angeles workplace on multiple occasions,” engaging in stalking behavior.

• Public Aggression: In January 2026, a local resident reported that Parker aggressively confronted her outside the courthouse over a parking dispute. She alleged that Parker “spit right through my open window” while her 7-year-old daughter sat in the car.

• Courtroom Demeanor: Residents described him as “rude and condescending” to women in his courtroom, with one observer characterizing his behavior as that of a “monster.”

Community Outrage and Dismissal

The accumulation of scandals led to public protests. On January 29, 2026, community members,including the Handmaids, gathered outside the courthouse to protest Parker and Judge Basden.

Photo by Don Pace

Facing mounting pressure and a “developing” story involving the spitting incident, the court finally acted. On February 10, 2026, Court Administrator Lacey Halberg sent a brief email to the local bar association email distribution list: “Effective immediately, Brian Parker is no longer employed by the Clallam County Superior Court.”

While Parker is gone, questions regarding Judge Basden’s leadership remain. Basden, who labeled press inquiries into his conduct as “cyberbullying,” was the architect of Parker’s hiring.

He waived the probation, ignored the perjury report, and appointed a man who police had already determined was untruthful.

The Olympic Herald will continue to investigate the systemic failures that allowed this appointment to happen, and whether any accountability will follow for those who facilitated it.