In 1978 he started his law practice at the law firm Riddell, Williams, Bullitt & Walkinshaw of Seattle, Washington.[4] He was a principal in the law firm Casey Gordon Davis, P.S. from 1983 to 2002. This practice emphasized trial practice, business and commercial litigation, products liability and plaintiff personal injury, toxic tort and chemical exposure litigation, mediation and arbitration, court-appointed special master. In 1995, he was the appellants' counsel in Birklid v. Boeing, 127 Wn.2d 853, a landmark case where he represented seventeen workers that were exposed to toxic phenol compound fumes. The case determined that knowledge of a hazardous condition constitutes 'deliberate intention'.[5] From 2002 to 2010, he was a principal of the Bellevue, Washington, law firm Gordon Edmunds Elder PLLC where his specialties are Mediation and Arbitration, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury Law, Toxic Exposure Law, and Products Liability.[6] In 2011, he formed a new law firm Gordon Edmunds Grelish PLLC carrying on the same work in Seattle, Washington.[2]
He has taught as an adjunct professor at the Seattle University School of Law since 1999, where he specializes in products liability and remedies.[7]
In 2005, Randy Gordon ran an exploratory campaign to unseat U.S. Representative Dave Reichert in Washington's 8th District. He dropped out of the race on January 5, 2006.
During the short spring 2010 session, Gordon received three committee appointments: Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC), Early Learning & K-12 Education and Judiciary.[9]
Gordon sponsored seven bills during the session, co-sponsored forty bills, one senate joint memorial, twenty-two senate resolutions.[10]
SB 6593, Infant & toddler program. This bill provides children from birth to 3 with developmental disabilities educational support. It was passed into law on March 29, 2010.[12]
SB 6686, Changing the election and appointment provisions for municipal court judges. Passed out of the Senate, but died in the house.[13]
SB 6764, Judgments/tortious conduct. This bill raises the interest rate on civil judgments from 2 percent to 12 percent.[16][17] The interest rate was amended in the House to prime plus two points. It was passed into law on March 19, 2010.[18]
In his first speech on the Senate floor, Gordon voted with other Democrats in order to suspend a voter-approved initiative so that so-called tax loopholes could be closed in order to pay for mandatory budget items required by the state Constitution.[20][21] A two-thirds majority was not needed in order to amend I-960 because lawmakers can amend initiatives with a simple majority vote after they've been on the books for two years.[22] SB 6843 was passed into law.[21]
Within the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, the committee that works to make state government operations more effective, efficient and accountable by auditing and evaluating how money is spent, Gordon reviewed a book of tax exemptions. He signed on to two major bills that hope to close some of these tax loopholes amounting to a half of a billion dollars[23] - SB 6853[24] and SB 6873.[25]
As part of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gordon helped SB 5838[26] through committee that would result in tougher infraction for drivers whose violation of traffic laws results in the death or substantial bodily injury of a pedestrian, bicyclist or any other "vulnerable" roadway user.[27][28]
As part of the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, Sen. Gordon sponsored SB 6593[29] which would transfer the Infant and Toddler Early Intervention Program to DEL from DSHS. Gordon testified in behalf of the bill[30]
The session ended with Gordon voting for 2ESSB 6143[31] to close a $2.8 billion budget shortfall by a combination of cutting state services and increasing taxes.[32] Taxes were increased on non-essentials - beer, soda, bottled water, and candy. Cuts were made in K-12 and higher education, and other state services.
2010 campaign for State Senate
Gordon was defeated by Mercer Island City Councilman Steve Litzow.[33] After an automatic recount, Gordon's defeat was confirmed. He lost by 192 votes out of nearly 60,000 votes cast.[34][35]
Pro bono work
Randy Gordon, Paul Lehto and John Wells are asking King County Superior court to void Sequoia's contract which has effectively allowed them to conduct elections. Gordon argues that by outsourcing voting to a private company which keeps its process secret, the individual's right to an election process that is transparent and observable is being abridged. Gordon is seeking a refund of $5 million for Snohomish County for 1000 voting machines.[36]
Eastside Legal Assistance Program (volunteer lawyer)
