Karen Watson at a glance
- Current role
- Commissioner
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Karen Watson
Commissioner · Pierce County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Karen A. Watson is a full-time commissioner of the Pierce County Superior Court in Washington, appointed in January 2021, with a background as a deputy prosecuting attorney and experienced family and criminal law attorney.
- In summary: Judge Karen A. Watson is an experienced Washington state attorney and prosecutor now serving as a Pierce County Superior Court commissioner
- She also held the role of deputy prosecuting attorney for Thurston County
Education
- Seattle University School of Law — J.D. (1994)
Additional information
- Appointed by the Pierce County Superior Court judges in 2021 to fill the vacancy created by the election of Hon. Diana Kiesel.
- Before her judicial appointment, Watson spent over 20 years as a deputy prosecuting attorney with the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
- handling cases in District and Superior Courts, arguing before the Court of Appeals and Washington State Supreme Court, and leading the Family Support Division.
- handling a range of civil, juvenile, and criminal cases, with a strong background in family law and public prosecution.
- Karen A. Watson serves as one of ten full-time court commissioners in Pierce County, presiding over matters in divisions such as Civil, Juvenile, Civil Mental Health, Adoptions, and Criminal.
- After law school, she practiced in private legal services (estate planning, family law, criminal defense) at Betzendorfer & Granoski in Tacoma, then joined the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
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
Pierce 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 ↗