Anne Cruser at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Anne Cruser
Judge · Court of Appeals - Division II
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Anne M. Cruser is a nonpartisan judge on the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II, serving since 2019 and re‐elected in 2022, with a background in prosecution, private practice, and prior judicial service in Cowlitz County
- Judicial Service: Judge, Cowlitz County Superior Court (2017–2019) Pro tem judge, Cowlitz County District Court (five years)
- Private Practice: Nearly a decade as a criminal defense attorney
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Washington, ?-present
- Prosecutorial Service: Deputy prosecuting attorney in Cowlitz County; later senior deputy prosecuting attorney and lead appellate attorney in Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Education
- Willamette University College of Law — J.D. (1997)
- Whitman College — B.A. (1994)
Additional information
- Elected: November 2019 and November 8, 2022; current term ends January 7, 2029
- Appointed: February 15, 2019, by Governor Jay Inslee to replace the retiring Hon. Jill M. Johanson
- handling trials and appeals before the Washington Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
- Responsibilities: Handles appellate cases in Division II, serves on the Board of Judicial Administration, and is part of the Court of Appeals’ Executive Committee.
- Washington State Bar Association Court Rules Committee
- Volunteer work with Cispus Outdoor School, Camp Sealth, Rotary Club of Kelso, and law enforcement reserve academies.
- Resides in Kalama, WA, with her husband and three children; enjoys skiing and visiting national and state parks.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Washington GR 16 allows video recording, audio recording, and still photography by the news media in courtrooms only after the judge has expressly granted permission.
Video and audio recording and still photography by the news media are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions, provided (1) that permission shall have first been expressly granted by the judgeWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Statewide
If a Washington judge limits courtroom photography or recording, GR 16 requires particularized findings on the record and treats open access as presumed.
Open access is presumed; limitations on access must be supported by reasons found by the judge to be sufficiently compelling to outweigh that presumptionWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Court of Appeals - Division II
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗