Courts & Judges
State Supreme Court
Physical Address
415 12th Avenue SW
Olympia, WA 98501
360-357-2077
Mailing Address
PO Box 40929
Olympia, WA 98504-0929
Website
Email
- Position 1 - Colleen Melody - 2026
- Position 2 - Sal Mungia - 2030
- Position 3 - Raquel Montoya-Lewis - 2026
- Position 4 - Charles W. Johnson - 2026
- Position 5 - Barbara A. Madsen - 2028
- Position 6 - G. Helen Whitener - 2028
- Position 7 - Debra L. Stephens - 2026
- Position 8 - Steven González - 2030
- Position 9 - Sheryl Gordon McCloud - 2030
Judicial offices are nonpartisan. Candidates do not identify a political party preference.
There are 9 justices on the State Supreme Court and Justices serve 6 year terms.
Duties
The Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. It is the final rule-making authority for all of the state’s courts. The Supreme Court also has administrative responsibility for operation of the state court system and has a supervisory role over the State Bar Association including attorney disciplinary matters.
Qualifications
Must be resident electors of the state and admitted to practice law in the courts of record. State Constitution, Article IV, Section 17
Court of Appeals Division III, District 3
500 N Cedar Street
Spokane, WA 99201
509-456-3082
Website
- Position 1 - Megan K. Murphy - 2026
- Position 2 - Rob Lawrence-Berrey - 2030
Judicial offices are nonpartisan. Candidates do not identify a political party preference.
Court of Appeals Judges serve 6 year terms. A total of 22 judges serve in 3, multi-county divisions headquartered in Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane. Each division is split into 3 districts. Yakima County is Division III, District 3.
Duties
The Court of Appeals hears appeals on decisions made by lower courts and has the authority to reverse, modify, affirm, or remand that decision.
Qualifications
Candidates must be residents of the district for not less than 1 year and admitted to practice law in the courts of the State of Washington for not less than 5 years prior to taking office. RCW 2.06.050
Yakima County Superior Court
128 N 2nd Street Room 314
Yakima, WA 98901
509-574-2710
800-572-7354
Website
Email
- Department 1 - Kevin Naught - 2028
- Department 2 - Elisabeth Tutsch - 2028
- Department 3 - Jeff Swan - 2028
- Department 4 - Shane Silverthorn - 2028
- Department 5 - Jared A. Boswell - 2028
- Department 6 - Ruth E. Reukauf - 2028
- Department 7 - Sonia Rodriguez True - 2028
- Department 8 - James Elliott - 2028
Judicial offices are nonpartisan. Candidates do not identify a political party preference.
Yakima County has 8 superior court judges as authorized by state law and are elected to serve 4 year terms.
Duties
Superior Court has jurisdiction over civil matters, domestic relations, felony criminal cases, juvenile matters, and appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.
Qualifications
Must be resident electors of the county and admitted to practice law in the courts of record. State Constitution, Article IV, Section 17
Yakima County District Court
128 N 2nd Street Room 225
Yakima, WA 98901
509-574-1804
800-572-7354
- Position 1 - Gary Hintze - 2026
- Position 2 - Brian Sanderson - 2026
- Position 3 - Julia Davis - 2026
- Position 4 - Alfred G. Schweppe - 2026
Judicial offices are nonpartisan. Candidates do not identify a political party preference.
Yakima County has 4 district court judges as authorized by state law and are elected to serve 4 year terms.
Duties
District Court has criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and criminal traffic infractions. Civil cases in District Court can include traffic infractions, small claims cases, and name change petitions.
Qualifications
Prospective Judges must be resident electors of the county and admitted to practice law in the State of Washington. State Constitution, Article IV, Section 17, RCW 3.34.060
City of Yakima Municipal Court
200 S 3rd Street
Yakima, WA 98901
509-575-3050
Website
- Position 1 - Troy Clements - 2029
- Position 2 - Aryn Masters - 2029
Judicial offices are nonpartisan. Candidates do not identify a political party preference.
The City of Yakima has 2 full time elected municipal court judges who are elected to serve 4 year terms.
Duties
Municipal court has exclusive original jurisdiction over traffic infractions arising under city ordinances and exclusive original criminal jurisdiction of all violations of city ordinances duly adopted by the city. RCW 3.50.020
Qualifications
Candidates must be registered to vote in Yakima County and be a lawyer admitted to the Washington State Bar. RCW 3.50.057, 3.34.060