Cecily Hazelrigg-Hernandez at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Court of Appeals of Washington
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Cecily Hazelrigg-Hernandez
Judge · Court of Appeals of Washington
Biography
Professional career
- Cecily C. Hazelrigg-Hernandez is the Presiding Chief Judge of Washington’s Court of Appeals, Division I, elected in 2018 and re‐elected in 2024, with a career rooted in public defense, immigration law, and community service
- Presiding Chief Judge for Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals, covering Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan counties
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Washington, ?-present
- Associate of Technical Arts in Paralegal Studies – Skagit Valley College
- First‐generation Chicana attorney and has focused on serving historically underserved communities, mentoring young lawyers, and advocating for access to justice
Education
- in American Cultural Studies – Western Washington University — B.A.
- JD – Gonzaga University School of Law; studied at Universidad de Guanajuato, Mexico
Additional information
- Her current term runs until January 12, 2031.
- She assumed office on January 14, 2019 after winning a contested 2018 election.
- She also chairs the Court of Appeals’ Public Engagement and Education Committee and participates in statewide racial justice initiatives.
- She has taught at Western Washington University and the Universidad Latina de América in Mexico.
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 of Washington
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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Court of Appeals of Washington current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Court of Appeals of Washington current judicial profile ↗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 ↗