--- title: "James F. Bell | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-bell-judge-benton-county-district-court-3459-wa" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # James F. Bell Benton County - District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Benton County - District 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. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Ohio Supreme Court, 1955-1962 - After his father’s death in 1947, he was appointed to replace him as Madison County Common Pleas judge, later winning the unexpired term in 1948 and a full six-year term in 1950. - Bell was born January 12, 1915 in Madison County, Ohio, the son of James F. Bell, Sr., a judge of the Madison County Court of Common Pleas ### Education ### Additional information - He retired in 1980, formed an arbitration firm, and later married Gloria Ingles Daubenspeck Smith. - In 1971, he moved to Holmes Beach, Florida, as general counsel for General Telephone Company of Florida. - Served until October 8, 1962, when he resigned to return to private practice. - In 1954, Bell was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court and re-elected in 1960. - From 1942 to 1945, Bell held the role of a special agent with the FBI. - He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1939 and began private practice in London, Ohio. - He graduated from DePauw University in 1936 and from the Ohio State University Law School. - After leaving the bench, Bell joined the Columbus law firm Power, Griffith, Jones & Bell. ## 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=3459&orgid=308) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=3459&orgid=308) - [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=3459&orgid=308) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5350/james-f-bell/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5350/james-f-bell/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-bell-judge-benton-county-district-court-3459-wa", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-bell-judge-benton-county-district-court-3459-wa", "name": "James F. 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Bell", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-bell-judge-benton-county-district-court-3459-wa" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.