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PORT ORCHARD, Wash. - A state Superior Court judge has ruled that a recall effort can proceed against embattled Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, who has racked up a record of cases reversed on appeal and is accused of "prosecutorial misconduct" and "vindictiveness."



Kitsap County Judge Jay Roof ruled Friday that the recall effort can proceed over allegations of "abuse of authority" by Lindquist.



Recall organizers said they are gratified with the ruling. They need to gather about 39,000 valid signatures of Pierce County voters to put the recall measure on the ballot.



An Associated Press review of all Washington cases that were reversed on appeal since 2012 because of prosecutor misconduct found that 17 of the 30 cases were in Pierce County. The appellate courts threw out convictions for murder, kidnapping, assault, robbery, burglary and drug charges.



A review of findings of prosecutorial misconduct in Pierce County since 2000, including reversed and non-reversed cases, found 85, according to Steve Merrival, who has filed a whistleblower complaint with the state Attorney General's office against county Prosecutor Mark Lindquist and a complaint with the Washington Bar Association against Lindquist and six deputy prosecutors.



Merrival, the longest serving deputy prosecuting attorney in Pierce County, said Lindquist maintains an office culture that encourages winning cases at all costs, even if it means pushing the constitutional limits.



"Committing prosecutorial misconduct appears to be a rite of passage into gang membership rather than seeking justice and maintaining trust as a prosecutor," Merrival said.



Lindquist, on the job since 2009, said the recall petition and complaints are politically motivated and their claims "are longer than a Harry Potter book and less-grounded in reality."



"When you are vigorous, effective and hold people accountable, you're going to occasionally make some folks unhappy," Lindquist said. "I'm confident everyone will be cleared of the false accusations."

