Carolyn Dimmick Final PDF.indd - Washington Secretary of State

Dimmick: Well, I was right in the Temple of Justice, right where the Supreme Court was.
And the attorney general represented a lot of cases in front of the Supreme Court.
Hughes: It’s 1953. You’re 24, just out of law school, and you’ve got a real job as assistant
attorney general, and you’re arguing cases before the Washington State Supreme Court.
Dimmick: Right.
Hughes: Who was on the court then that made a real impression on you? Did you think at
that time, “Hmmmm, nice marble. Maybe someday ….”?
Dimmick: No, no. Never occurred to me.
Hughes: But there you are. You’re really finding your way, and it’s not nearly as daunting
as you thought. Now you’re an attorney.
Dimmick: Passed the Bar exam. Got a job.
Hughes: Passed it first time?
Dimmick: Yes. As a matter of fact, I was hired before the Bar exam as a law clerk. I was to
get $250 a month, then $350 when I passed the Bar. Well I thought, “I’ll go to work after I
pass the Bar.” So I went down to California to visit my brother, who was living with a bunch
of airline pilots and having a good time. I got a call from Bernie Lonctot saying, “ Don wants
you to come to work now.” I said, “But I haven’t gotten the results of the Bar yet.” He said,
“Well, you’ll get more money when you come. But you’re a law clerk so come to work.” So
I went up there and got started.
Hughes: How long did that take (to get the results of the Bar exam)?
Dimmick: Months, and months because we wrote in blue books, somebody had to read all
the stuff, you know.
Hughes: Are Bar exam essays and tests different today, judge?
Dimmick: I don’t know. I’ve never checked into it. They can probably do it on computers
now.
Hughes: Was it a high-pressure experience?
Dimmick: The Bar? Yeah, three days of tests. We were all sitting in this big huge room on
the University of Washington campus.
Hughes: How many of you were there?
32