Longtime Kittitas County Superior Court Judge Scott R. Sparks passed away Friday.
Sparks was a superior court judge for more than 20 years. His death was announced during a brief recess Friday afternoon during the criminal docket hearings in Kittitas County Superior Court.
Judge L. Candace Hooper asked for a moment of silence before court proceedings resumed.
Hooper called Sparks “a good friend, a mentor.”
“And an absolutely delightful human being in every way,” Hooper said.
Sparks was a superior court judge following his election in 2004, and had previously served as a superior court commissioner from 1998 to 2003.
He announced last year that he would retire and not seek another term in Position 2 on the superior court bench.
Hooper, as well, announced last year she would also retire, prompting a complete changeover of superior court judges.
Chris Herion was elected in November to replace Hooper in Position 1, with James Kirkham Jr. winning the seat long held by Sparks.
A farewell ceremony to honor both Hooper and Sparks had been previously planned Friday, with the announcement of proposed proclamations to honor Sparks with “The Honorable Scott R. Sparks Day” on Jan. 14, and for Hooper, with “The Honorable L. Candace Hooper Day” on Jan. 13.
Court officials shared memories of both Hooper and Sparks, and Deputy Prosector Patricia Todd said Sparks had been told of the proclamation before his passing Friday, and a flag that flew over the county courthouse was presented to him at his bedside.
