The Superior Court of Washington for King County (informally known as the King County Superior Court) is a state court in Washington state, United States. 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.
As of July 2026, the court has 56 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.See generally Ch. 2.08 RCW.
Current judges +NameAssumed officeCurrent term endAppointed byLaw schoolJudgesPresiding JudgeAveril RothrockOctober 28, 2018January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Willamette UniversityAssistant Presiding JudgeTanya ThorpApril 1, 2014January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Seattle UniversityChief Judge of the Maleng Regional Justice Center, KentJosephine Wiggs-MartinApril 15, 2019January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonChief Judge of the Clark Children and Family Justice Center, SeattleVeronica GalvánDecember 19, 2014January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonChief Civil JudgeDavid KeenanJanuary 9, 2017January 9, 2029ElectedSeattle UniversityChief Criminal JudgeBrian McDonaldSeptember 2019January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of MichiganAssistant Chief Criminal JudgeNelson K.H. LeeFebruary 18, 2020January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Pepperdine UniversityChief Unified Family Court JudgeAimee SuttonFebruary 10, 2019January 9, 2029ElectedUniversity of WashingtonLead Judge, DependencyAdrienne McCoyOctober 1, 2021January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeKristin BallingerDecember 22, 2021January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Columbia UniversityJudgeJohanna BenderNovember 2, 2015January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeElizabeth J. BernsJanuary 2013January 9, 2029ElectedSeattle UniversityJudgeJoe CampagnaAugust 17, 2022January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Vermont Law SchoolJudgeMonica CaryMarch 18, 2024January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Lewis & Clark CollegeJudgeSamuel ChungMay 27, 2014January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)George Washington UniversityJudgePaul M. CrisalliSeptember 1, 2023January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of OregonJudgeWilliam L. Dixon VJuly 1, 2023January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeMarshall FergusonJuly 29, 2018January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeTaki V. FlevarisFebruary 9, 2023January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Harvard Law SchoolJudgeJaime HawkJanuary 26, 2023January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Gonzaga UniversityJudgeNikole E. HecklingerJanuary 13, 2025January 9, 2029ElectedSeattle UniversityJudgeJanet HelsonMarch 11, 2015January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of California, BerkeleyJudgeJason HollowayFebruary 18, 2022January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Willamette UniversityJudgeAngela KaakeMarch 20, 2024January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Seattle UniversityJudgeMark LarrañagaMay 15, 2023January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Gonzaga UniversityJudgeMatt LapinApril 30, 2022January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of MiamiJudgeKent LiuJune 30, 2025January 9, 2029Bob Ferguson (D)Seattle UniversityJudgeSusan LLorensJanuary 24, 2025January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeHillary MadsenJanuary 11, 2021January 9, 2029ElectedSeattle UniversityJudgeJessica Murphy MancaJuly 1, 2026January 9, 2029Bob Ferguson (D)University of WashingtonJudgeJohn McHaleJanuary 9, 2017January 9, 2029ElectedSeattle UniversityJudgeMaureen McKeeAugust 23, 2018January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Cornell Law SchoolJudgeSean O'DonnellJanuary 2013January 9, 2029ElectedSeattle UniversityJudgePatrick OishiJanuary 2011January 9, 2029Christine Gregoire (D)Seattle UniversityJudgeSuzanne ParisienJanuary 10, 2013January 9, 2029ElectedVillanova UniversityJudgeJennifer PetersenFebruary 10, 2025January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeNicole Gaines PhelpsJanuary 9, 2017January 9, 2029ElectedIndiana University JudgeCindi PortApril 1, 2020January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Gonzaga UniversityJudgeJason PoydrasJuly 8, 2021January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Seattle UniversityJudgeE. Rania RampersadAugust 14, 2023January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Georgetown UniversityJudgeAndrea RobertsonDecember 31, 2020January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeMichael K. RyanJanuary 10, 2019January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Georgetown UniversityJudgeTenaya ScheinmanMay 1, 2026January 9, 2029Bob Ferguson (D)University of VirginiaJudgeBenjamin SantosApril 30, 2025January 9, 2029Bob Ferguson (D)American UniversityJudgeKen SchubertJanuary 14, 2013January 9, 2029ElectedUniversity of WashingtonJudgeMichael ScottApril 2, 2018January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Stanford Law SchoolJudgeKetu ShahMay 10, 2019January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of MinnesotaJudgeNicholas StraleyMarch 4, 2024January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Cornell Law SchoolJudgeTodd D. TinkerFebruary 18, 2025January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Seattle UniversityJudgeHaydee VargasMarch 21, 2022January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Seattle UniversityJudgeDavid WhedbeeSeptember 16, 2019January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeSandra WidlanApril 2, 2018January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)New York UniversityJudgeCoreen WilsonDecember 16, 2022January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonJudgeWyman YipJanuary 9, 2023January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)Lewis & Clark CollegeJudgeDaniel YorkJanuary 8, 2026January 9, 2029Bob Ferguson (D)University of HoustonJudgeMelinda YoungJanuary 2, 2019January 9, 2029Jay Inslee (D)University of WashingtonCourt CommissionersCommissionerPaul F. EagleJune 18, 2018 -Appointed by CourtGonzaga UniversityCommissionerHeritage FilerMarch 18, 2025 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerKate FrancisAugust 2, 2024 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerKate FrancisAugust 2, 2024 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerLindsey Goheen2023 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerMark J. HillmanJuly 2018 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerHollis HolmanAugust 6, 1996 -Appointed by CourtGonzaga UniversityCommissionerHenry JudsonJuly 2014 -Appointed by CourtLewis & Clark CollegeCommissionerJonathon LackJune 17, 2019 -Appointed by CourtUniversity of Richmond School of LawCommissionerSarah L. MoenMarch 31, 2026 -Appointed by CourtWhittier Law SchoolCommissionerHeather Muwero2024 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerJavier OrtizMarch 24, 2025 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerJamie Perry2022 -Appointed by CourtSeattle UniversityCommissionerCamille Schaefer2018 -Appointed by CourtSeattle University
Notable judges Walter B. Beals Adam Beeler William L. Downing Barbara Durham Matthew W. Hill Faith Ireland Richard A. Jones Robert S. Lasnik Gary Little Ricardo S. Martinez Marsha Pechman John S. Robinson Stanley C. Soderland James Street Mary Yu
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