Charlie Z. Silverman, Deputy Prosecutor (Criminal)

Career criminal prosecutor with over 20 years of service to the citizens of Washington.

• Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor for San Juan County for over 18 years.
• Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor for Mason County for 3 years.
• Senior Criminal Deputy Prosecutor for Grays Harbor County for 2-1/2 years.
• Deputy Prosecutor for Pierce County for 2 years.
• Enjoys studying criminal law, quiet evenings with his wife, Deborah, and listening to classical piano music.

Most memorable case: Murder trial of Ruth Neslund, tried together with the Hon. Greg Canova.

Karen E. Vedder, Deputy Prosecutor (Civil)

Karen has lived on San Juan Island since 1974. She has a long history of involvement with planning issues in San Juan County, joining the prosecutor's office in 1999 to work on issues before the Western Washington Growth Board and, currently, represents the County on the full spectrum of civil issues.

Before becoming a lawyer, she covered county government for the Island Record newspaper during the years when the County's first comprehensive plan was being challenged in the courts. She served for 9 years on the County's Board of Adjustment and was a member of the County's Open Space Advisory Committee whose work led to the adoption of the Open Space Conservation Overlay District.

Karen studied law through an apprenticeship program under former Prosecutor Gene Knapp. She is one of the small number of Washington attorneys to have passed the bar exam without going to law school. After becoming a lawyer she spent 10 years in the Mt. Vernon branch office of a major Seattle law firm focusing on civil litigation. In 1997 she left the firm to spend a year in Ecuador with her family as a volunteer English teacher.

Karen has a passion for riding her beloved yellow bike, learning anything new and traveling to near and far away places with her handsome husband, Jim.

Jonathan W. Cain, Deputy Prosecutor (Land Use)

Jon learned to swim and sail at an early age. He loves being on the water and happily traded the surf of San Diego for kayaking and the not-so-extreme sport of ferry riding in the Northwest.

He also enjoys mountain biking and hiking, but most of all he loves exploring new places with his wife and daughter.

Kim M. McClay, Deputy Prosecutor (Criminal)

Information forthcoming. 

Gwendolyn L. Halliday, Deputy Prosecutor (Child Support)

Gwen joined the San Juan County Prosecutor's Office in 2010.  She also works part-time for the Skagit County Prosecutor's Office in Mount Vernon.  She has 20 years of civil legal experience with an emphasis in family law.  Gwen has worked as a senior deputy prosecutor for the Skagit County Prosecutor's Office for 12 years.  She also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Spokane office under Christine Gregoire for 8 years. 

Gwen graduated from the University of Washington School of Law and has an undergraduate degree from Whitworth College, Spokane.  She has practiced law in 16 different counties and three tribal courts.

Vacant, Victim Services Advocate

Elizabeth Pillow, Victim Services Advocate

Liz moved to San Juan Island 22 years ago from Hawaii. Before joining the San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in 2002, she worked in a variety of positions in County government including the District Court Office and the Sheriff's Office, as Chief Civil Deputy. Prior to working with the County, she was the owner of two local small businesses.
Liz mentors youth in the Mentor Program on San Juan Island. She is an avid gardener and quilter with an extended family of a dog, three cats, numerous laying hens and alpacas.
When not working, Liz and her husband, Brad, enjoy long distance bicycling trips that have included Italy, England and Ireland.
 

Antonia E. Bailey, Assistant to the Prosecuting Attorney

Toni joined the prosecutor’s office in September 2000. She is the assistant to Randall K. Gaylord and Karen E. Vedder.

Serenity, wildlife and immense waterways are just a few of the qualities that was the guiding force which brought Toni and her husband to the San Juan Islands a few years ago.

Prior to coming to San Juan Island, Toni was executive assistant to the president of a biopharmaceutical company for several years. During her time with the company, she worked directly with the company’s corporate law firm handling several legal matters including but not limited to patent maintenance, private financings, shareholder communications and press releases.

An avid marine mammal and wildlife protection advocate, she is a member of several protection groups for wildlife and the environment.

Toni has two adult children, a daughter, Kelly who is married, has one child, and living in Seattle; her son, Christopher, who is also living in Seattle.

Toni loves to garden and landscape. When she’s not in the garden, she's enjoying drawing, boating, or traveling around beautiful Washington State.

Toni is assistant to Prosecutor Randy Gaylord and Deputy Prosecutor Karen Vedder.

Cathryn S. Korth, Legal Assistant - Superior Court

Cathy moved to the San Juan Islands in 2008 from Nampa, Idaho.  Before joining the San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office she worked in Boise, Idaho, for the law firm of Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke, Chartered, which specializes in Municipal Bonds, General Municipal Law, Environmental, Natural Resource and Water Law.

The love of sailing and travel brought Cathy, her husband, Brad, and son, Dylan to Friday Harbor.  Their long-range goal is to circumnavigate the world and feel that the San Juans is the perfect place to practice.  In the meantime, Cathy enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, hiking, reading, and exploring her beautiful new home in Washington State.

Cathy is assistant to Deputy Prosecutor Charlie Silverman.
 

Camolyn P. Armstrong, Legal Assistant - District Court

Camolyn joined the San Juan County Prosecutor’s Office in 2007. She moved to San Juan Island in 1993 from Mt. View, California.  Her passions are cooking, water sports, hiking with her dog, spending time outdoors, during the cold winter months, reading a good book and quilting.

Camolyn is assistant to Deputy Prosecutor Kim McClay.

Heather J. Spaulding, Legal Assistant - Land Use and Child Support

Heather was raised in Friday Harbor, although it took four years at The Evergreen State University and frequent travels abroad before she began to appreciate her native home. The ocean, family and friends kept drawing her back to the San Juans until she realized how important the community was to her. She decided to relax and stay a while.

When she isn’t in the office problem solving and shuffling paper around, you can find her by, on or in the sea, gardening hiking or writing.

Heather is assistant to Deputy Prosecutors Jon Cain and Gwen Halliday.

Credo

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a little bit better, whether by commitment to family, service to victims of crime, or service to our community; and
To know that even one life has breathed easier because we have served.

This is the measure of our success.

(Left to right  from first row) Joanna DePree, Cathryn Korth, Heather Spaulding Liz Pillow, Susan Kimball, Camoyn Armstrong, Karen Vedder, Randall Gaylord Jon Cain, Charles Silverman,Toni Bailey,

We thank Ralph Waldo Emerson for his help with our credo.