King County Superior Court

Last updated
King County Superior Court
Seattle - King County Courthouse 03.jpg
King County Superior Court
Established1889
Jurisdiction Washington
King County
Location King County
Composition methodNon-partisan election
Authorised by Constitution of Washington
Appeals to Washington Court of Appeals
Appeals from King County District Court
Number of positions62 judges
Website Official Website
Presiding Judge (King County Courthouse)
CurrentlyPatrick Oishi
Chief Judge (Maleng Regional Justice Center)
CurrentlyKetu Shah

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.

Contents

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

NameAssumed officeCurrent term endAppointed byLaw school
Judges
Presiding JudgePatrick OishiJanuary 2011January 13, 2025 Christine Gregoire (D) Seattle University
Asst. Presiding JudgeMary E. RobertsJanuary 2003January 13, 2025 Gary Locke (D) University of Washington
Chief Civil Court JudgeTanya ThorpApril 1, 2014January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
Chief Criminal Court Judge (Seattle)Karen DonohueMarch 2018January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
Chief Criminal Court Judge (Kent)Ketu ShahMay 10, 2019January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) University of Minnesota
Chief Unified Family Court JudgeSean O'DonnellJanuary 2013January 13, 2025Elected Seattle University
Chief Juvenile Court JudgeAveril RothrockOctober 28, 2018January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) Willamette University
Asst. Chief Criminal Court JudgeJohanna BenderNovember 2, 2015January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeChad AllredMay 12, 2014January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Texas
Judge Susan Amini May 13, 2013January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Maryland
JudgeKristin BallingerDecember 22, 2021January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Columbia University
JudgeElizabeth J. BernsJanuary 2013January 13, 2025Elected Seattle University
JudgeRegina CahanOctober 1, 2008January 13, 2025Elected University of Wisconsin
JudgeSamuel ChungMay 27, 2014January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) George Washington University
JudgeAndrea DarvasJanuary 2004January 13, 2025Elected University of Michigan
Judge J. Michael Diaz January 2018January 13, 2023 Jay Inslee (D) Cornell University
JudgeMarshall Ferguson2018January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeVeronica GalvánDecember 19, 2014January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeJulia GarrattJuly 2013January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Gonzaga University
JudgeJanet HelsonMarch 11, 2015January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of California, Berkeley
JudgeJason HollowayFebruary 18, 2022January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Willamette University
JudgeDavid KeenanJanuary 2017January 13, 2025Elected Seattle University
JudgeMatt LapinApril 30, 2022January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Miami
JudgeNelson K.H. LeeFebruary 18, 2020January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Pepperdine University
JudgeHillary MadsenJanuary 11, 2021January 13, 2025Elected Seattle University
JudgeAdrienne McCoyOctober 1, 2021January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeLeRoy McCulloughJanuary, 1989January 13, 2025Elected University of Washington
JudgeBrian McDonaldAugust 2019January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Michigan
JudgeJohn McHaleJanuary 9, 2017January 13, 2025Elected Seattle University
JudgeMaureen McKeeAugust 23, 2018January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Cornell University
JudgeAnnette MessittJanuary 8, 2019January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) DePaul University
JudgeCoreen WilsonDecember 16, 2022January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeSuzanne ParisienJanuary 10, 2013January 13, 2025Elected Villanova University
JudgeNicole Gaines PhelpsJanuary 9, 2017January 13, 2025Elected Indiana University
JudgeCindi PortApril 2020January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Gonzaga University
JudgeJason PoydrasJuly 8, 2021January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
JudgeMafé Rajul2018January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeJudith RamseyerJanuary 2012January 13, 2025Elected Seattle University
JudgeKristin RichardsonNovember 8, 2016January 13, 2025Elected Willamette University
JudgeAndrea RobertsonDecember 31, 2020January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeJim RogersJanuary 2005January 13, 2025Elected Georgetown University
JudgeSteve RosenJanuary 9, 2017January 13, 2025Elected University of Minnesota
JudgeJohn RuhlApril 1, 2014January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Notre Dame
JudgeMichael K. RyanJanuary 10, 2019January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) Georgetown University
JudgeKen SchubertJanuary 14, 2013January 13, 2025Elected University of Washington
JudgeMichael Scott2018January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) Stanford University
JudgeMatthew J. SegalJuly 9, 2021January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
JudgeCatherine ShafferNovember 2000January 13, 2025Elected Columbia University
JudgeAimee SuttonFebruary 10, 2019January 13, 2024Elected University of Washington
JudgeHaydee VargasMarch 21, 2022January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) Seattle University
JudgeDavid WhedbeeSeptember 16, 2019January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeSandra WidlanApril 2, 2018January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) New York University
JudgeJosephine Wiggs-MartinMarch 2019January 13, 2024 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
JudgeMatthew WilliamsJanuary 9, 2017January 13, 2025Elected University of Nebraska
JudgeMelinda YoungJanuary 2, 2019January 13, 2025 Jay Inslee (D) University of Washington
CommissionerShannon Gould--- Seattle University
CommissionerMark Hillman--- Seattle University
CommissionerHollis Holman---
CommissionerMelinda Taylor Johnson--- Seattle University
CommissionerHenry Judson--- Lewis & Clark College
CommissionerJonathon LackJune 17, 2019--University of Richmond School of Law
CommissionerJennie Laird--- Seattle University
CommissionerBradford Moore--- Seattle University
CommissionerNicole Wager----

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References

  1. See generally Ch. 2.08 RCW.