From the Desk of the Presiding Judge: Building a Better Court: New Appointments and Leadership Transitions for 2025
By Judge Ketu Shah
Greetings, now that we have started 2025 and made our judicial rotations and moves, we are excited to hit the ground running. We have many people rotating to new departments to offer their expertise throughout the Court. We also have new transitions in our leadership with Judge Rothrock as Assistant Presiding Judge, Judge Scott as Chief Civil Judge, Judge Young as Chief Criminal Judge, Judge McDonald as Assistant Chief Criminal Judge, Judge Keenan as MRJC Chief, Judge Sutton as UFC Chief, and Judge Galvan as CCFJC Chief. These chiefs meet regularly and discuss operations to ensure cases get to our judges in an efficient and timely manner. They are continuously analyzing how to get calendars covered, how to manage staffing levels to ensure courts are operational and to discuss changes in law that affect filings and capacity issues.
This process is critically aided by our staff, the clerk’s office and our experience in dealing with surges in the past. We are constantly learning and trying to improve. In some ways, we are a microcosm of what justice looks like. It is not always the end that explains whether justice is achieved or not, but rather, it is the process we establish to get us there. There are many times the law has been used to inflict injustice. Laws are created by imperfect process and actors, and we as courts follow them, but sometimes upon reflection, the laws we created actually create injustice instead of justice. It is February and Black History Month, and as I write this, I attended the KCBA MLK Luncheon. Both events remind us of a time where laws were used to disenfranchise and subjugate an entire community. There were laws passed that inhibited voting, denied housing, and segregated education. These laws were in place for many years, and only after societal upheaval, folks fought for changes and ultimately changed these laws. The injustice that was perpetrated was corrected by a willingness to review these laws, reflect on their impact, and then change them to make a more just society. This process of change is built into the law. There will always be injustice in this world, and there will be laws that play a part in this. But there should always be a process to change this injustice, a civil nonviolent process that allows us as a society to improve.
The Courts play a critical part on the path towards justice, but we are not perfect. We also self-reflect and create processes so we can improve and change. We are an imperfect institution with imperfect actors, but I am confident that the judges and staff who are tasked with leading this court are committed to improving, creating access, and reflecting on how to be better. They are humble and curious. This reflection is on-going and we will continue our path of working towards justice.
Our Court consists of a variety of judges that all believe in this process. When we have our meeting to discuss local rules or operations, everyone asks questions about how our adjustments would affect the parties and the attorneys. We meet monthly with Bar Associations, including KCBA, to hear feedback. Our strength is in the variety of backgrounds our judges have. We have four new attorneys with varied backgrounds taking the bench this month: King County Superior Court Commissioner Nikole Hecklinger, Ms. Susan E. Llorens, Ms. Jennifer R. Petersen, and Mr. Todd D. Tinker.
Judge Nikole Hecklinger, a former public defender who became a King County Superior Court Commissioner, was elected in November to fill an open seat created by the retirement of Judge Andrea Darvas. Judge Hecklinger was sworn in on January 13th and is assigned to trials at the Maleng Regional Justice Center.
Ms. Petersen, who spent the bulk of her 20-year career as an attorney in the criminal and civil divisions of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, was appointed by Governor Inslee in December to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kristin Richardson, which will occur on February 1st. Ms. Petersen will also attend the Washington State Judicial College at the end of January. She will be sworn in on February 10th and is assigned to civil cases, focusing on unlawful detainers and other civil matters.
Ms. Llorens spent most of her nearly 20 years as an attorney, working as an assistant attorney general in multiple divisions of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. In January Governor Inslee appointed her to one of the two new seats approved by the King County Council. Ms. Llorens will be sworn in on January 24th, will attend the Washington State Judicial College at the end of January and then begin her rotation with dependency and juvenile offender cases.
Mr. Tinker has worked in private practice for more than 28 years, with a focus on medical negligence cases for the last 20 years. Governor Inslee appointed him in January to one of the two new seats approved by the King County Council. He also will attend the Washington State Judicial College and will be sworn in on February 18th and is assigned to civil cases, focusing on unlawful detainers and other civil matters.
We will have another transition as Judge Messitt has resigned from her position effective March 31st and I will work with the Governor’s Office for a new appointment.
As always, we welcome feedback and conversation on how our court can serve the King County Bar and the members of our community. Please reach out to further that conversation.
