Brian McDonald at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Brian McDonald
Judge · King County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- The Chief Criminal Judge for the King County Superior Court in Washington, appointed in 2019 and serving until 2029
- held the role of Commissioner for the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One (2008–2009)
- Earlier in his career, he was an associate attorney at Cairncross & Hempelmann (Seattle) and Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges (San Francisco)
Education
- University of Michigan Law School — J.D. (1988)
- in History — Stanford University — B.A. (1984)
Additional information
- In 2025, he also held the role of Assistant Chief Criminal Judge.
- Re-election: Won re-election in 2024 without appearing on the ballot
- Appointed: August 9, 2019, by Governor Jay Inslee to replace the late Judge Laura Inveen
- Recipient of the King County Bar Association’s Outstanding Lawyer Award (2004)
- Co-chair of the Washington Pattern Jury Instruction Committee
- Judge McDonald serves in Department 48 of the King County Superior Court, where he is the Chief Criminal Judge.
- His work includes presiding over criminal trials, motions, and appellate matters, and he is responsible for overseeing the court’s criminal division.
- Before joining the court, Judge McDonald had over 25 years with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, as a senior deputy prosecuting attorney handling both criminal trials and appellate cases, including the prosecution of serial killer Gary Ridgway.
- Past co-chair of the King County Superior Court’s Education/Training Committee and Jury 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
King 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 ↗