---
title: "Carolyn Cliff | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carolyn-cliff-judge-island-county-superior-court-410-wa"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Carolyn Cliff

Island County - Superior Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Island County - Superior Court
- State: Washington
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### photography recording

Scope: 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.

Evidence excerpt: 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 judge

[Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### limitations on recording

Scope: statewide

If a Washington judge limits courtroom photography or recording, GR 16 requires particularized findings on the record and treats open access as presumed.

Evidence excerpt: Open access is presumed; limitations on access must be supported by reasons found by the judge to be sufficiently compelling to outweigh that presumption

[Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=410&orgid=431)
- [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=410&orgid=431)
- [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=410&orgid=431)
- [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carolyn-cliff-judge-island-county-superior-court-410-wa",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carolyn-cliff-judge-island-county-superior-court-410-wa",
      "name": "Carolyn Cliff | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Carolyn Cliff, Island County - Superior Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-26",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carolyn-cliff-judge-island-county-superior-court-410-wa#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carolyn-cliff-judge-island-county-superior-court-410-wa#judge",
      "name": "Carolyn Cliff",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carolyn-cliff-judge-island-county-superior-court-410-wa",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Island County - Superior Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=410&orgid=431"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Washington",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/washington"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Carolyn Cliff",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/carolyn-cliff-judge-island-county-superior-court-410-wa"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Elected judge of the Island County Superior Court in Washington, serving since November 2020, with a long career in judicial and legal roles in the region
- In addition to judicial service, she maintained a private civil litigation practice in Langley, WA for nearly 30 years, closing her office in 2017
- Langley Municipal Court Judge (2002–2004)
- Superior Court Commissioner (1997–1998)

### Education

- in Political Science — Swarthmore College — B.A.
- University of Washington School of Law — J.D.

### Additional information

- Elected to the Island County Superior Court bench on November 3, 2020 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Hon. Vickie I. Churchill.
- Before her election, Cliff served 20 years as a pro tem judge for the Island County Superior Court and also as a pro tem judge for the Island County District Court.
- She presides over a variety of cases, including family matters such as domestic violence, child support, and other civil matters.
- Member of the University of Washington Law Review, Order of the Coif (academic excellence), and Order of the Barristers (oral advocacy).



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7133c6bd26c80972b86e0d31) — 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](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.