Arthur D. Klym at a glance
- Current role
- Commissioner
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Arthur D. Klym
Commissioner · Benton County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Court Commissioner for the Benton-Franklin County Superior Court in Washington, appointed to the bench in 2021
- Before joining the bench, Klym was a partner at Armstrong, Klym & Jameson, P.S. in Benton County
Education
- Willamette University College of Law — J.D. (1977)
- in History, Walla Walla College — B.A. (1974)
Additional information
- Practiced privately in the Tri‐Cities since 1980 and held the role of a Guardian ad Litem in family law cases for 25 years.
- focusing on family law, adoptions, estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and real estate matters.
- Office Hours: Court Administration 8:00 am–12:00 pm & 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
- Courts 8:30 am–5:00 pm (times may vary)
- Klym has been active in community theater (Richland Players, Rude Mechanicals), founding board member of the Academy of Children’s Theatre and Three Rivers Children’s Museum Foundation, and volunteer off‐ice official for the Tri‐City Americans hockey team.
- Born in Portland, raised on a chicken farm in Cornelius, Oregon; married to Cheryl, who teaches ESL; three grown children.
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
Benton County - Superior Court
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 ↗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 ↗