About Nicholas

Background and Education

Nicholas grew up in Spokane, attending Hamblen, Chase, and Ferris, where he was president of the Chess club. After graduating high school, Nick attended Washington State University. He was the fourth generation in his family to become a Coug, following the footsteps of his father, grandmother, and great grandfather. At WSU, Nick became a member of the Honors College, and studied math, physics, and German. He graduated from WSU Magna Cum Laude and a member of Phi Beta Kappa with two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in mathematical physics and the other in theoretical mathematics.

After two years in AmeriCorps and missing the mountains of Washington, Nick returned to attend law school at University of Washington School of Law in Seattle. He participated in the Tribal Court Defense Clinic, numerous moot court and mock trial competitions, and the Journal of Law Technology and Arts, where he was Managing Articles Editor. He graduated from UW law in the top third of his class and was a Vice President of Moot Court Honor Board. He was also inducted into the Order of Barristers for his numerous awards in legal advocacy, including mock trial Regional Champions his final year.

Though Nick attended both WSU and UW, he still bleeds crimson. Go Cougs!

Legal Experience

At the AGO, Nick began as a line attorney and promoted to a team leader and then section chief. He is now the Section Chief of the Litigation Support Section of the Torts Division of the AGO, overseeing several teams of attorneys and professional staff. He has handled numerous and varied cases against the State and its agencies and has argued before all levels of court, including the Washington Supreme Court. On behalf of the State, he has argued cases in front of the Washington State Supreme Court and helped draft an amicus curiae brief for the United States Supreme Court. Nick also serves on the AGO Opinions Committee, which drafts the formal and informal opinions of the Attorney General. Finally, Nick is the Attorney General’s designee to investigate Whistleblower Complaints against the State Auditor’s Office. Nick has received numerous awards for his work at the AGO, including an Excellence Award and the Tanner Award.

Separate and apart from his work at AGO, Nick has worked as a Pro Tem Judge and Commissioner for various courts in Spokane County. Starting in 2021 with the Airway Heights Municipal Court and expanding to Spokane County District Court in 2022, and the Spokane Superior Court in 2024, Nick has worked diligently as a substitute legal officer handling numerous matters from preliminary criminal hearings to civil protection orders to family law motions.

Public Service

Growing up in Spokane, Nick was active in his community. He was involved in Boy Scout Troop 313 based out of Hamblen Presbyterian Church. He was a leader in his troop and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. As part of scouting he participated in countless community service projects for the greater Spokane community.

After college, Nick volunteered with AmeriCorps in the North Chicago suburbs, where he tutored and led after school programs for at-risk high school students looking to go to college. There he helped develop and implement a math program to help students with their classes and SAT/ACT prep.

Nick began his legal career as a law clerk for the Washington Court of Appeals, Division III, working for the Honorable Kevin Korsmo. After his clerkship, he served as a public defender and in private practice at Winston & Cashatt before joining the Washington Attorney General’s Office. While juggling his career and fatherhood responsibilities, he continues to find the time to be an active Spokane citizen by judging high school debate tournaments, volunteering at Gonzaga Law School and serving on the Washington State Bar Association’s Judicial Recommendation Committee.

Family

Nick is married to his beautiful and brilliant wife, Claire, who he was fortunate to meet in law school. It is possible he promised to buy her a cup of coffee and never did. There is a material dispute of fact on this and the matter has yet to proceed to trial. Should this prove true, it is also possible she may one day forgive him. Together, they have two adorable daughters, Ember and Ellie, and one ten-year-old chocolate lab named Cana, who still thinks she’s a puppy.

Nick has family all over Spokane County. He has three sisters, one older and two younger, as well as several step brothers and sisters. When not working, he enjoys hiking, skiing, golfing and spending time with family at Priest Lake.

Awards and Distinctions

Nicholas has been recognized for his work ethic, academic excellence, legal mind, and strength of character with these awards:

Tanner Award, Washington AGO

Excellence Award, Washington AGO

Quality Legal Services Coin, Washington AGO

Order of Barristers, UW Law School

AAJ Mock Trial Regional Champions, UW Law School

First-Place Speaker 2014, UW Law Mock Trial

Magna Cum Laude – WSU

Phi Beta Kappa – WSU

Presentations

Nicholas has presented on a variety of legal issues around the country, including:

March 2026, National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), Navigating 1983 Litigation

February 2026, WA Attorney General’s Office, Evidence CLE, ER 904

January 2026, Special Assistant Attorney General Training, Ethics, Supervising Non-Lawyers

November 2025, Spokane County Bar Association (SCBA), Electronic Discovery

November 2025, NAAG Trial Advocacy

September 2025, NAAG, Voire Dire

August 2025, WA AGO Torts Division, Electronic Discovery

May 2025, WA AGO, Handling difficult opposing counsel in discovery

April 2025, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Spring Conference CLE

November 2024, WA AGO, Drafting and implementing legal hold notices

2018, SCBA, Chaired ethics panel for the Intro to the Courts CLE