A Judge Too Reversed: Senate Blocks Allyn's Regent Seat
The state Senate refuses to confirm Judge Frank Allyn of Tacoma as university regent, citing incompetence, extravagance and a remarkable reversal record.
Olympia, March 12.—Special.—The senate this morning refused to confirm the appointment of Judge Frank Allyn, of Tacoma, as regent of state university. Every other confirmation was unanimous. Promptly at 10 o'clock the senate went into executive session, and the chamber was cleared of everybody except senators. When Judge Allyn's appointment was reached the Pierce county delegation, except Sergeant, objected. There were no written charges, but the tenor of the remarks indicated that as superior judge of Pierce county he was generally incompetent and extravagant in office, and intimated that he was susceptible to outside influence. The charge of incompetency was supported by the statement that of fifty-four cases appealed fifty-one were reversed. The vote stood against confirmation. The senators named as supporting him were Donahoe, Hutchinson, Sergeant, Frink, Megler and Wooding; Van Houten and Washburn were absent.
“There were no written charges, but the tenor of the remarks indicated that as superior judge of Pierce county he was generally incompetent and extravagant in office.”
University regent confirmations still turn on competence, politics and a candidate's record. Allyn's rejection shows how quickly a judge's appellate statistics can become a public weapon.
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