Lloyd W. Shorett, 86, County Prosecutor, Judge

Former King County prosecutor and retired Superior Court Judge Lloyd W. Shorett - one of King County's toughest vice fighters and a persuasive arbitrator - died late Friday. He was 86.

The lanky Seattle native with snowy hair and a penchant for elegant suits died of pneumonia. He leaves a legacy of 59 years of efforts to improve society and its legal system.

He may have felt sad there wasn't more change, but Mr. Shorett certainly had done his part.

From rackets to kickbacks, the world held many things Mr. Shorett couldn't abide when he studied at the University of Washington. He resolved upon law-school graduation in 1932 to do something about it.

He spent four years in private partnership with attorney Albert D. Rosellini, and in 1936 was appointed King County deputy prosecuting attorney by Prosecutor Warren G. Magnuson.

Before Mr. Shorett became a state assistant attorney general in 1940, he said he hated "all varieties of (scam artists) in politics, religion or citizenry."

In 1942, he was elected King County prosecutor, pledging to end racketeering in the county and corruption in government. He tried many cases himself.

"The prosecutor's office," he said, "should be run like any other good law office - to win lawsuits."

Mr. Shorett closed brothels, banned bookmaking shops and routed illegal "slush funds."

He was elected Superior Court judge in 1948, a position he held until retiring in 1973. He advocated streamlining the legal system, and involved himself in cases from Teamster Dave Beck's trial in the 1950s to banning a Buffalo Party Rock Festival in 1971.

Later, as a court-appointed arbitrator, he threw out a state regulation cutting the commercial salmon season for trollers in 1976.

"He was known and respected as a judge of highest integrity," said his son, David Shorett of Bainbridge Island. "He had opinions, just didn't discuss them in public. We did have lively talks around the dinner table."

Mr. Shorett, a lifetime baseball fan - he'd played in college and had an awesome knuckle ball that he later taught Little League players - also enjoyed fishing and hunting.

He once took his wife to a Snohomish farm where he liked to hunt. Two ducks flew up. He grabbed his shotgun, aimed and bagged both with one shot.

"He never went hunting again," his son said. "He couldn't top that."

Other survivors include his wife, Betty, of Kirkland; daughter Nancy Bocarde, of Farmingdale, N.Y.; stepchildren Craig Howard, of Seattle; Pete Howard, of Bainbridge Island, and Chris Burke, of Redwood City, Calif.; and brother John, of Mercer Island. His first wife, Virginia, died in 1971.

Services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Holy Family Catholic Church, 7355 120th Ave. N.E., Kirkland.

Remembrances may be made to Medic One Foundation, Harborview Medical Center, Mail Stop ZA-35, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, or to Josh Howard Memorial Fund, c/o The Seattle Foundation, 425 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98101.