Christine Schaller at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Christine Schaller
Judge · Thurston County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Chief Judge of Family & Juvenile Court (2015–2017, 2021–2022, 2024)
- Chief Criminal Judge and Drug Court Judge (2019–2020)
- Presiding Judge of the Superior Court (2018–2019)
- Earlier as a Family & Juvenile Court Commissioner (2005–2012)
- Plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Lamb argued the law unconstitutionally gave unelected officials power to remove elected sheriffs, undermining voters’ right to choose their representatives
Education
- B.A. from St. Martin’s University (1993) and a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law (1996).
Additional information
- Elected to the Thurston County Superior Court in 2012 and began her service in January 2013.
- Before joining the bench, she practiced family law, juvenile law, criminal defense, estate planning, and probate at Foster, Foster & Schaller LLC from 1996 to 2000.
- Supporters, including the Washington State Attorney General’s office, defended the law as essential for accountability, trust, and proper training in law enforcement leadership.
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
Thurston 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 ↗