SCJA - About Us
A Brief History of SCJA
The Association of Superior Court Judges was founded in 1933 by state law, RCW 2.16. All currently serving Superior Court Judges are members of the Association, which also includes Court Commissioners and may include retired Judges.
In 2016, legislation was passed that changed the Association’s name to Superior Court Judges’ Association (SCJA), a name that has been historically used for decades.
President
Judge Rachelle E. Anderson
Spokane County
President Elect
Judge Jennifer A. Forbes
Kitsap County
Immediate Past President
Judge David G. Estudillo
Grant County
Secretary
Judge Shelley D. Szambelan
Spokane County
Treasurer
Judge Timothy L. Ashcraft
Pierce County
SCJA President
District One
Judge Samuel S. Chung and
Judge Karen Donohue
District Two
Judge Edmund Murphy
District Three
Judge Laura M. Riquelme
District Four
Judge Chris Lanese
District Five
Judge Samuel P. Swanberg
District Six
Judge Charnelle M. Bjelkengren
SCJA Officers
The officers manage the day to day operations of the association in conjunction with the Board Trustees. They also oversee the various committees of the Association.
SCJA Trustees
Our Purpose
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To improve the administration of justice.
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To conduct instructive programs whereby higher standards of efficiency and excellence may be obtained and to better equip the superior court judges of Washington in the proper performance of their duties.
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To support and implement the canons of judicial ethics.
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To promote the interchange of ideas and to encourage cooperation and social contacts among the members of the judiciary.
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To promote the objectives of statutes relating to the Association.
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To promote better relations with the public and other branches of government.
Our goal is to provide equal justice for all while accomplishing the purposes enumerated above.