John C. Skinder at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John C. Skinder
Judge · Thurston County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Before his election, he held a position as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Thurston County from 2000 to 2016
- Prior to that, he served in Lewis County as a deputy prosecuting attorney from 1997 to 2000.
- He remains a key figure in Thurston County’s DUI/Drug Court, shaping the county’s approach to rehabilitation-focused justice
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary in 1992 and a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 1996, graduating cum laude.
Additional information
- As of 2026, Judge Skinder continues to preside over criminal and civil jury trials, bench trials, and motion calendars, and he handles appeals from administrative agencies.
- Elected to the Thurston County Superior Court in 2016 and began serving in 2017.
- overseeing criminal cases and presiding over the county’s DUI/Drug Court.
- handling assignments such as lead attorney for the Special Victims Team and the Domestic Violence Unit, and serving as legal advisor to county officials.
- He currently serves as the Presiding Judge and Chief Criminal Judge
- He has been a strong advocate for therapeutic courts, which focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, particularly for individuals with substance use disorders.
- Judge Skinder emphasizes a personalized, less formal approach in these courts, aiming to address the root causes of criminal behavior and support participants in becoming productive members of society.
- His work with the Strophy Foundation highlights his commitment to improving outcomes through these innovative court models.
- Judge Skinder is a former President of the Thurston County Bar Association and, along with his wife Angela, is actively involved in the local community.
- He resides in Tumwater, Washington, with his family.
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 ↗