Jessica Tsao at a glance
- Current role
- Commissioner
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Jessica Tsao
Commissioner · Court of Appeals - Division I
Biography
Professional career
- Commissioner Jessica Tsao is a judge on the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I, appointed in February 2026, with a background in law, civil litigation, and public service
- Early Career: Joined the Court of Appeals in 2018 as a law clerk, transitioning from a technology transactions practice at a major Seattle law firm
- Court Service: Progressed to staff attorney, then senior staff attorney, before her current judicial appointment.
Education
- Degrees: B.S.E.E. and J.D. from the University of Washington.
Additional information
- Appointed: February 2, 2026, by the Court of Appeals, Division One.
- Other Experience: Civil litigation, business advising, and representation in commercial insolvency proceedings.
- Origins: Born and raised in the Seattle area.
- Volunteer Work: Long-time volunteer tutor with the Youth Tutoring Program in Seattle’s public housing communities; former board member of the Asian Bar Association of Washington and its Student Scholarship Foundation.
- Personal Interests: Outrigger canoe paddling in the Pacific Northwest.
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 - Division I
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 ↗