Judge George B. Fearing

DIVISION III, POSITION 2

June 24, 2013–Present

Appointed by Governor Inslee

Judge George Fearing began service as a Judge of Division III of the Court of Appeals in June 2013. He succeeded Judge Dennis Sweeney, his former law partner, as the sole member of the court in position 2, which covers nine southeastern Washington counties. Voters retained Judge Fearing in contested elections in 2013 and 2016.

Before joining the court, George Fearing practiced law in the Tri-Cities with the same law firm for 31 years. Fearing was a trial lawyer, who specialized in representing municipal corporations and law enforcement officers in civil litigation. He also handled commercial and employment litigation. Despite his reputation as being a trial lawyer, George loved legal research and writing and handled over 90 appeals as a litigator.

Judge Fearing served his church in various capacities, including adult and child teacher, religious liberty director, and local church board member. He served on the Board of Directors of Tri-City Junior Academy. He graduated from Walla Walla University in 1979 and served as his alma mater’s Alumni President. In 2013 he was honored as the University’s Alumnus of the Decade for the 1970s. Fearing graduated from the University of Washington law school in 1982. Five others from his class have served on the Court of Appeals.

George Fearing has served as a presidential elector. His hobbies include reading history and listening to classical and new age music. He has written four unpublished history books: See George Run, Water Gate, My Year with Bush, and How We Die. He has also authored short stories and a timeline for religious liberty events.

George’s lawyer wife and he have three grown sons, none of whom thankfully pursued law as a career.