King County Superior Court

The Superior Court of Washington for King County (more commonly, the King County Superior Court) is the largest trial court in Washington state. It is based at the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, in downtown Seattle, Washington. It also operates a juvenile facility and a Regional Justice Center in Kent, southeast of Seattle.

King County Superior Court
Map
Established1889
JurisdictionWashington
King County
LocationKing County
Composition methodNon-partisan election
Authorised byConstitution of Washington
Appeals toWashington Court of Appeals
Appeals fromKing County District Court
Number of positions62 judges
WebsiteOfficial Website
Presiding Judge (King County Courthouse)
CurrentlyPatrick Oishi
Chief Judge (Maleng Regional Justice Center)
CurrentlyKetu Shah

The court has (as of November 2018) 53 judges who have general jurisdiction to hear major civil and criminal cases. The court also has appellate jurisdiction over certain decisions of the district courts, municipal courts, and administrative tribunals.[1]

Current judges

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Name Assumed office Current term end Appointed by Law school
Judges
Presiding Judge Patrick Oishi January 2011 January 13, 2025 Christine Gregoire (D) Seattle University
Asst. Presiding Judge Mary E. Roberts January 2003 January 13, 2025 Gary Locke (D) University of Washington
Chief Civil Court Judge Tanya Thorp April 1, 2014 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
Chief Criminal Court Judge (Seattle) Karen Donohue March 2018 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
Chief Criminal Court Judge (Kent) Ketu Shah May 10, 2019 January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) University of Minnesota
Chief Unified Family Court Judge Sean O'Donnell January 2013 January 13, 2025 Elected Seattle University
Chief Juvenile Court Judge Averil Rothrock October 28, 2018 January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) Willamette University
Asst. Chief Criminal Court Judge Johanna Bender November 2, 2015 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Chad Allred May 12, 2014 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Texas
Judge Susan Amini May 13, 2013 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Maryland
Judge Kristin Ballinger December 22, 2021 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Columbia University
Judge Elizabeth J. Berns January 2013 January 13, 2025 Elected Seattle University
Judge Regina Cahan October 1, 2008 January 13, 2025 Elected University of Wisconsin
Judge Samuel Chung May 27, 2014 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) George Washington University
Judge Andrea Darvas January 2004 January 13, 2025 Elected University of Michigan
Judge J. Michael Diaz January 2018 January 13, 2023 Jay Inslee (D) Cornell University
Judge Marshall Ferguson 2018 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Veronica Galván December 19, 2014 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Julia Garratt July 2013 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Gonzaga University
Judge Janet Helson March 11, 2015 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of California, Berkeley
Judge Jason Holloway February 18, 2022 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Willamette University
Judge David Keenan January 2017 January 13, 2025 Elected Seattle University
Judge Matt Lapin April 30, 2022 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Miami
Judge Nelson K.H. Lee February 18, 2020 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Pepperdine University
Judge Hillary Madsen January 11, 2021 January 13, 2025 Elected Seattle University
Judge Adrienne McCoy October 1, 2021 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge LeRoy McCullough January, 1989 January 13, 2025 Elected University of Washington
Judge Brian McDonald August 2019 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Michigan
Judge John McHale January 9, 2017 January 13, 2025 Elected Seattle University
Judge Maureen McKee August 23, 2018 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Cornell University
Judge Annette Messitt January 8, 2019 January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) DePaul University
Judge Coreen Wilson December 16, 2022 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Suzanne Parisien January 10, 2013 January 13, 2025 Elected Villanova University
Judge Nicole Gaines Phelps January 9, 2017 January 13, 2025 Elected Indiana University
Judge Cindi Port April 2020 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Gonzaga University
Judge Jason Poydras July 8, 2021 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
Judge Mafé Rajul 2018 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Judith Ramseyer January 2012 January 13, 2025 Elected Seattle University
Judge Kristin Richardson November 8, 2016 January 13, 2025 Elected Willamette University
Judge Andrea Robertson December 31, 2020 January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Jim Rogers January 2005 January 13, 2025 Elected Georgetown University
Judge Steve Rosen January 9, 2017 January 13, 2025 Elected University of Minnesota
Judge John Ruhl April 1, 2014 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Notre Dame
Judge Michael K. Ryan January 10, 2019 January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) Georgetown University
Judge Ken Schubert January 14, 2013 January 13, 2025 Elected University of Washington
Judge Michael Scott 2018 January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) Stanford University
Judge Matthew J. Segal July 9, 2021 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
Judge Catherine Shaffer November 2000 January 13, 2025 Elected Columbia University
Judge Aimee Sutton February 10, 2019 January 13, 2024 Elected University of Washington
Judge Haydee Vargas March 21, 2022 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
Judge David Whedbee September 16, 2019 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Sandra Widlan April 2, 2018 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) New York University
Judge Josephine Wiggs-Martin March 2019 January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Judge Matthew Williams January 9, 2017 January 13, 2025 Elected University of Nebraska
Judge Melinda Young January 2, 2019 January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
Commissioner Shannon Gould - - - Seattle University
Commissioner Mark Hillman - - - Seattle University
Commissioner Hollis Holman - - -
Commissioner Melinda Taylor Johnson - - - Seattle University
Commissioner Henry Judson - - - Lewis & Clark College
Commissioner Jonathon Lack June 17, 2019 - - University of Richmond School of Law
Commissioner Jennie Laird - - - Seattle University
Commissioner Bradford Moore - - - Seattle University
Commissioner Nicole Wager - - - -

Notable judges

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References

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  1. ^ See generally Ch. 2.08 RCW.
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