Haydee Vargas at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Haydee Vargas
Judge · King County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Haydee Vargas is a bilingual (Spanish/English) judge in Department 12 of the King County Superior Court in Washington, appointed in 2022 and re‐elected in 2024, with a background in public defense and immigration law
- Legal Career: Began in immigration law after law school Transitioned to public service in 2004; held the role of a Public Defender for over 18 years
Education
- B.A. in History, Seattle University J.D., Seattle University School of Law
Additional information
- Bailiff: Kassie Smith
- She is the first in her immediate family to attend college and earn a graduate degree.
- Judge Vargas is a native Spanish speaker and grew up in Eastern Washington.
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 ↗