Aloha from King County Superior Court.
On October 2, King County Superior Court welcomed Judge Paul Crisalli to the bench. Judge Crisalli succeeds Judge Matthew Williams in judicial department 41.
For over ten years, Judge Crisalli served as an assistant attorney general with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO). During his tenure at the AGO, he served as an appellate advisor and focused on complex civil litigation, including matters involving reproductive health care, immigrants’ rights, complex worker safety issues and campaign finance enforcement litigation. Before joining the AGO, Judge Crisalli clerked for Judge Joel Penoyer and Commissioners Aurora Bearse and Eric Schmidt at the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II, as well as Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst. He also previously served as a law clerk at the Oregon Department of Justice. In addition, Judge Crisalli has experience as an associate attorney in private practice in the areas of appeals, property, estate, personal injury, employment, family law, contract, and constitutional issues.
Welcome to King County Superior Court Judge Crisalli!
On October 4, King County Superior Court, in partnership with KCBA, held two new attorney swearing-in ceremonies at the King County Courthouse. We were honored to have distinguished keynote speakers at each ceremony. At the noon-time ceremony, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell provided keynote remarks. U.S. District Court Judge John Chun provided keynote remarks at the afternoon ceremony. Numerous new admittees to the bar, family members, and supporters were in attendance for the joyous occasions.
King County Superior Court welcomes the 2023 new admittees to the Bar and the practice of law. We hope to see many of you in court advocating on behalf of your clients!
On November 10, the annual KCBA Bench-Bar Conference will return after a brief one-year hiatus. The conference will be held in-person at the Washington State Convention Center. The program will include updates from Presiding Judges of Federal, State, and Limited-Jurisdiction Courts; Litigator’s Roundtable focusing on remote proceedings practice and court rules; and a presentation on the King County Civic Campus Master Plan and the future of the King County Courthouse. It should be an informative program and a great opportunity for attorneys and judges to meet and network. If you are a newer attorney, this would be a wonderful opportunity for you to meet your fellow practitioners, as well as numerous judges.
Finally, I am pleased to announce Judge Ketu Shah has been elected to be 2024–2025 King County Superior Court Presiding Judge. Judge Shah served in many leadership roles on the Court, including Assistant Presiding Judge, Chief Criminal Judge, Chief Maleng Regional Justice Center Judge, Co-Chair of the Education Committee, and Co-Chair of the Budget Committee. He is a zealous advocate for robust judicial education and is Dean Emeritus of the Washington State Judicial College. Judge Shah is committed to diversity in the courts and access to justice for all. Fun facts about Judge Shah . . . he played and coached soccer, grew up in Alaska, is a proud Whitman alum, and loves all types of music. King County Superior Court will be in good hands under the outstanding guidance and leadership of Judge Ketu Shah!
