READY TO LEAD ON DAY ONE
Bryan Chushcoff understands the justice system from every perspective: judge, administrator, collaborator, and reformer.
His experience managing complex institutions, balancing a multi-million dollar budget and improving public access to justice makes him uniquely prepared to lead the Prosecutor’s Office with integrity, accountability, and results.
BECAUSE POLITICS HAS NO PLACE IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
PUBLIC SAFETY REQUIRES PROSECUTORIAL MANAGEMENT THAT DELIVERS RESULTS
More arrests without charges filed while unresolved cases pile up in the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office
Percentage of bookings with no charges filed
Source: Pierce County Criminal Justice Data, online.
The Core Failure is Management
Pierce County now has more arrests ending without charges being filed, fewer felony cases being filed, and more unresolved cases piling up, leaving crime victims, law enforcement, taxpayers, and the public with a justice system that is slower, costlier, and less accountable.
Effective management of the Prosecutor’s Office is essential to public safety, victim protection, and responsible government. The Prosecutor must be able to organize people, resources, data, and strategy around measurable outcomes—not simply promise to stand up for crime victims while performance moves in the wrong direction.
Charging Decisions Are Moving in the Wrong Direction
A troubling performance indicator of failing management is the rate at which the Prosecutor’s Office declines to file charges after someone has been booked into jail by police. The most recent publicly available Pierce County data show that the Office declines to file charges in more than 1 out of 7 bookings.
In 2019, the Prosecutor declined to file charges on 8% of jail bookings. By 2024, that rate had risen to 15.3%, nearly double the pre-Covid rate. While the sharp increase in 2020 might be explained by the Covid emergency, that period ended years ago, and the elevated decline rate has not only failed to return to prior levels, but it continues to get worse.
Percentage of bookings with no charges filed
Source: Pierce County Criminal Justice Data, online.
A higher decline rate means more arrests that do not result in charges, more unanswered questions for victims and law enforcement, and more strain on public confidence. Communities and crime victims are not protected by a system that books people into jail only to later decline prosecution at a sharply higher rate.
Case Backlogs Are Undermining Accountability
Our campaign has shown that current management of the Prosecutor’s Office is failing another basic performance test: fewer felony cases are being filed than just a few years ago, yet more cases remain unresolved and take longer to resolve.
As delays mount, evidence weakens, crime victims and defendants wait longer for resolution, and taxpayers absorb higher costs for jail housing, medical care, and legal representation.
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Comparing the last non-pandemic year, 2019, with 2025, new felony case filings fell from 4,934 to 3,727, a decline of nearly 25%.
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During that same period, the average number of pending cases rose from 1,589 to 1,865, an increase of more than 17%.
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If pending cases had declined at the same rate as filings, Pierce County would have approximately 600 fewer pending felony cases today.
That widening gap points to a justice system under strain: fewer new cases entering the system, more unresolved cases accumulating, longer waits for accountability, and declining public confidence.
Our opponent dismisses these results saying they “do not reflect the realities of the job.” These results have not been meaningfully disputed and they deserve explanation. These numbers measure whether the Prosecutor’s Office is resolving serious criminal cases efficiently, protecting victims, and using public resources effectively. The data show that in recent years the Prosecutor’s Office has declined to file more cases where police have made an arrest and that it is filing fewer cases. At the same time, it is falling behind in resolving felony cases.
Good management is the cornerstone of any successful public office. The Prosecutor should gather data, analyze trends, identify bottlenecks, and use feedback from law enforcement, victims, staff, courts, and the community to guide decisions. Performance data should not be treated as an afterthought; it should drive strategy, accountability, and course correction. The Prosecutor must be able to manage staff, resources, data, and strategy toward achieving justice and the protection of the public.
Public safety leadership must be judged by measurable outcomes, not stated intentions. The current record—more arrests ending without charges, fewer felony cases being filed, and more unresolved cases accumulating—requires correction, and disciplined management. Crime victims, law enforcement, taxpayers, defendants, and the public need a Prosecutor’s Office that measures performance honestly and manages toward results. Achieving justice and the protection of crime victims and the public require nothing less. Pierce County deserves nothing less.
INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY
Bryan Chushcoff has spent decades serving within the Pierce County justice system while maintaining independence from political factions, special interests, and personal agendas.
As both a judge and attorney, Bryan developed a deep understanding of the Prosecutor’s Office, county government, and the legal system as a whole. His experience gives him the ability to evaluate issues fairly, make informed decisions, and focus on what best serves the public.
Bryan served as a nonpartisan judge and brings that same commitment to impartial leadership as Prosecutor. His decisions are guided by facts, fairness, and accountability, not outside influence, giving him the credibility to lead meaningful reforms that earn public trust and deliver lasting results.
A RECORD OF MODERNIZATION AND REFORM
Bryan has consistently championed improvements that made the justice system more accessible, transparent, and efficient.
Expanding Language Access
Bryan led efforts to translate criminal court forms into Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Russian—improving access for individuals with limited English proficiency and strengthening communication between courts and interpreters.
Modernizing Court Access
As Presiding Judge, Bryan partnered with the Pierce County Clerk to implement electronic filing, giving the public, attorneys, and the press faster and easier access to court records.
Lowering Costs for Litigants
Electronic filing reduced paperwork, eliminated delivery costs, and streamlined document handling—saving time and money for those navigating the legal system.
Improving Criminal Court Efficiency
Bryan helped launch the Electronic Court Order (ECO) system, which allows criminal court orders to be created and filed electronically in real time. This innovation reduced administrative errors, lowered personnel costs, and improved information sharing with law enforcement and other stakeholders.
Advancing Transparency in Government
While serving on the state Board for Judicial Administration, Bryan contributed to the adoption of GR 31.1, a court rule that expanded public access to judicial administrative records and increased transparency within the court system.
Expanding Remote Access
Bryan supported the use of video conferencing technology to improve access to court proceedings, reduce delays, and lower costs for participants across the justice system.
A MESSAGE FROM BRYAN
Demographic shifts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and political division have contributed to the loss of too many experienced attorneys from the Prosecutor’s Office in recent years. The result has been a critical decline in the quality and consistency of legal services provided to the public. Our next Prosecutor must be prepared to address these challenges with strong leadership, sound judgment, and proven experience.
Public safety and justice depend on a Prosecutor who can lead effectively, protect crime victims, support skilled legal professionals, and ensure our courts serve the community fairly and competently.
The outcome of this election matters because court decisions have lasting consequences for our neighborhoods, families, and future. You deserve a Prosecutor who will uphold justice with integrity, transparency and fairness.
As Prosecutor, I will prioritize mentorship for new attorneys, advocate for increased funding to retain experienced staff, and reorganize the office to strengthen accountability and deliver high-quality legal services.
Born and raised in Tacoma, I have a deep commitment to ensuring that Washington and Pierce County remain safe, just, and prosperous communities for all families. My background and experience have prepared me to meet the challenges facing the Prosecutor’s Office today. It has been the honor of my career to serve the people of Pierce County for 28 years as a Superior Court Judge.
By electing me as Prosecutor, you are choosing experienced leadership dedicated to safer neighborhoods, fair representation, and justice for all. I respectfully ask for your vote this November so that together we can build a stronger future for Pierce County.
