George E. Washington

George E. (Ernie) Washington is a third-generation Chicoan. He graduated from Chico public schools and then attended UC Berkeley, from which he graduated with a degree in political science. He then attended Hastings College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 1969.

Mr. Washington began his professional career in the San Francisco Area, where he practiced civil litigation with an insurance defense firm. He returned to Butte County, where he served as a Butte County Deputy District Attorney for three years and then worked as a contract public defender. He was previously a partner in the firm of Marsh, Washington & Marsh in Chico and then Leonard & Lyde in Oroville and Chico. Mr. Washington and Philip Heithecker formed the firm of Washington & Heithecker in 1995.

Mr. Washington has extensive civil and criminal jury trial experience. He has tried a number of significant civil cases to jury verdict, including many complex medical malpractice and employment law cases. He is a longtime member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Sacramento Valley Chapter, and the Association of Defense Counsel (ADC).

Mr. Washington is involved in community service, having been a past chairman of the Bidwell Park & Playground Commission and a Director of the Downtown Chico Business Association (DCBA). He is currently a member of the Butte County Water Commission. Mr. Washington has a strong background in agriculture and has been involved in serious crop loss litigation and cases involving spray drift. Representative clients include Norcal Mutual Insurance Company; MedAmerica Mutual Risk Retention Group, Inc.; the County of Butte; and numerous physicians in Northern California. He has also served as Special Counsel to the Butte County Grand Jury on several occasions.