Barbara McInvaille at a glance
- Current role
- Commissioner
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Barbara McInvaille
Commissioner · Pierce County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Full-time commissioner of the Pierce County Superior Court in Washington, appointed in 2017, and has held the role of presiding commissioner since 2021
- Legal Experience: Judicial assistant at the Washington Court of Appeals (Division II) during law school; judicial law clerk to Hon. J. Dean Morgan and Hon. Elaine Houghton at the Court of Appeals
- A native of Colorado, McInvaille has been active in both legal and community service roles, combining her judicial work with advocacy in youth justice and mental health
Education
- Seattle University School of Law — J.D. (2001)
- Bachelor of Music in vocal performance (opera) from Colorado State University (1983)
Additional information
- She has been assigned to the Juvenile Court at Remann Hall, where she has overseen the At-Risk Youth and Truancy dockets since 2019.
- She also held the role of presiding commissioner starting in 2021.
- Practice: Over 13 years as a private practice family law attorney at trial and appellate levels before joining the bench.
- One of ten full-time commissioners in the Pierce County Superior Court, presiding over matters in various divisions such as civil, juvenile, civil mental health, adoptions, and criminal cases.
- Professional Roles: Member of the Honorable Robert J. Bryan American Inn of Court (Chapter XXV) and liaison to the National Chapter; statewide co-chair of the BECCA Taskforce; member of the Kids’ Mental Health Pierce County Steering Committee.
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
Pierce 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 ↗