Norm Maleng

Norm Maleng (1939–2007) served as the King County, Washington, Prosecutor for 28 years.[1] He was also an architect of Washington's Sentencing Reform Act.[1]

Contents

Career

Maleng was born in Acme, Washington, and grew up on a dairy farm. Known as "Kim" during his youth and to those close to him throughout his life, he graduated from the University of Washington in 1960, then served as an officer in the military. He obtained his law degree in 1966 from the University of Washington Law School, was elected as Prosecutor in 1978, and was re-elected seven times.[1][2]

Maleng was involved in a number of high-profile cases, most notably the 1983 Wah Mee Massacre, the 2006 Seattle Jewish Federation shooting committed by Naveed Afzal Haq, and the serial murders of Gary Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer.

He ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Washington in 1988 and 1996. In 1992, he lost an election for Attorney General to Christine Gregoire.[3]

Maleng is credited with bringing several large scale policy reforms to Washington State's Criminal Justice system including passage of the 1984 Sentencing Reform Act, tougher penalties for car thefts in 2007 and rethinking the prosecution of low level drug offenses by placing emphasis on treatment options after a first or second offense, rather than lengthy prison sentences.

Legislative accomplishments

Death and honors

Maleng died of cardiac arrest during an event at the University of Washington on May 24, 2007.[1]

In December 2007, the King County Regional Justice Center in Kent, was renamed in his honor.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Sullivan, Jennifer; Steve Miletich (25 May 2007). "Longtime prosecutor Norm Maleng dies". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003721534_normmaleng25.html. Retrieved 10 November 2010. 
  2. ^ "Biography of Norm Maleng". King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070615004344/http://www.metrokc.gov/proatty/nkm/bio.htm. Retrieved 10 November 2010. 
  3. ^ Gutierrez, Scott; Tracy Johnson, Levi Pulkkinen (25 May 2007). "Norm Maleng dead at 68". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/317243_maleng25.html. Retrieved 10 November 2010. 
  4. ^ Sims, Ron (1 December 2007). "Leaders gather to dedicate Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center". kingcounty.gov. http://your.kingcounty.gov/exec/news/2007/1201mrjc.aspx. Retrieved 18 November 2010.