Kathryn C. Loring at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kathryn C. Loring
Judge · San Juan County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Kathryn C. Loring is the Presiding Judge of the San Juan County Superior Court in Washington, appointed by Governor Jay Inslee in November 2017 and re‐elected in 2018, 2020, and 2024
- Local Practice: Moved to the San Juan Islands in 2008; practiced civil litigation, family law, business formation, estate planning, and probate for eight years, later founding her own firm.
- Presiding Judge for the San Juan County Superior Court, located at 350 Court St., #7, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
- Early Career: Judicial law clerk to Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst; associate at Perkins Coie LLP in Seattle
Education
- Boston College Law School — J.D. (2004)
- in Environmental Science, University of Rochester — B.S.
Additional information
- Introduced Family Treatment Court in 2024.
- Launched Adult Drug Court in 2019.
- Appointed: November 3, 2017, by Governor Jay Inslee to replace the retired Hon. Donald Eaton.
- Overseen courtroom technology upgrades to improve accessibility.
- Served on multiple committees, including the Superior Court Judges’ Association’s Equality and Fairness, Rural Courts, and Juvenile and Family Law committees.
- Judge Loring grew up in St. Louis, MO, and Buffalo, NY.
- Community Service: held the role of pro tem Commissioner for Superior Court; board member for the San Juan County Library District; mentoring programs; and leadership roles in the San Juan County Bar Association and Soroptimist International.
- She enjoys bicycling, cooking, and spending time with her husband and dog.
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
San Juan 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 ↗