April 27, 2025: Tonight, I'm not writing about quiet moments of self-care. Instead, I'm writing about the stark realization that true justice might not be possible in Pierce County Superior Court—not without calling out the problematic ties that undermine it.
Today, I formally demanded that Visiting Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown recuse herself from presiding over the case involving the Estate of Leeanna Ruth Mickelson. Why? Because ethical lines have been crossed, impartiality has been compromised, and the interconnected web of relationships in Pierce County's judicial system is too tangled to ignore.
Here’s the troubling reality:
Back in October 2017, Judge Frank Cuthbertson recused himself from my mom's probate case, explicitly citing impartiality concerns and calling for a visiting judge. I recall my own ex parte communication with him May of 2016, as then presiding judge, when the final decree of my late mom's went missing; he had never heard of that happening in the clerk's office and promised he would look into it. Later, he would be assigned the matter, rule a visiting judge to be assigned, then recused himself entirely; the issue was never fixed. In March 2025, it was determined by presiding judge Susan Adams that a visiting judge would need to be assigned and as a result, Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Ferguson-Brown was assigned. Yet, despite this clear recognition of conflict, Judge Cuthbertson recently made a campaign contribution to Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown—the same visiting judge now presiding over the identical, unresolved issue he once stepped away from. This connection creates an undeniable appearance of bias.
Further complicating matters, Judge Clarence Henderson—who succeeded Judge Cuthbertson upon his retirement over Department 21—is overseeing the reassignment of my case, even though he has openly expressed admiration and mentorship ties to Judge Cuthbertson. The court’s own policy calls for impartiality, yet here we are, with layers of personal and professional connections that can't be brushed aside.
How can anyone expect fairness in such a situation?
The Pierce County Superior Court itself acknowledged, through a letter from Judicial Coordinator Cristina Platt, that no local judge could impartially hear this case, thus assigning a visiting judge. Yet, inexplicably, Judge Ferguson-Brown was chosen, despite receiving recent financial backing from Judge Cuthbertson.
These aren’t just technicalities; they're ethical breaches that erode trust and integrity in our judicial system. I'm fighting not just for myself, but for anyone navigating the courts in Pierce County, hoping for fairness, transparency, and genuine impartiality.
Justice isn’t possible when the system itself is compromised by personal connections and campaign contributions. Enough is enough.
So tonight, I'm standing up, speaking out, and demanding accountability—starting with Judge Ferguson-Brown's immediate recusal. The integrity of our courts is too important to overlook these conflicts.
If you've ever felt silenced by a tangled web of connections, know you're not alone. Real change begins when we shine a light on the places where fairness has faded.
– Heather
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| Recused Judge Frank Cuthbertson donated $200 to the "Committee to Retain Cadine Ferguson-Brown" on April 19, 2025, to which she presides over a matter in Pierce County that he recused himself in 2017. |
