March 2021 Bar Bulletin
From King County District Court
After serving as a pro tem judge in numerous municipal courts in King and Pierce counties, Judge Fa’amomoi (“Moi”) Masaniai joined the King County District Court bench in February.
The King County Council appointed Judge Masaniai at its January 26 meeting to fill a judicial vacancy in the court’s Southwest District. Active in the Puget Sound region’s Pacific Islander community, Judge Masaniai is believed to be the first judge of Samoan heritage to serve on the bench in Washington.
Judge Masaniai’s legal experience includes work in both criminal defense and prosecution. He has argued cases in...