Kristian E. Hedine at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kristian E. Hedine
Biography
Professional career
- Hon. Kristian E. Hedine is a judge of the Walla Walla County District Court in Washington, elected in 2010 and re‐elected in 2014, serving as the court’s full‐time presiding judge since 2014
Education
- University of Kansas School of Law — J.D. (1982)
- in Psychology — University of Washington — B.S. (1978)
Additional information
- Current status: Full‐time presiding judge; also serves as a judicial member of the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct, with a term expiring in 2029
- Re‐elected: 2014, unopposed
- Elected: 2010 to fill a vacancy after the retirement of Hon. Jerry Votendahl
- Founder of Virtual In‐House Counsel (2001)
- City attorney in Waitsburg and Prescott; assistant city attorney in Walla Walla (1982–1995)
- Private practice attorney, including at Reese, Baffney, Schrag & Hedine
- In‐house counsel for HighSpeed Communications (3 years)
- Adjunct investigative counsel for the Washington State Bar Association
- Active member of the District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association, serving on multiple committees
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
Walla Walla County - District 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 July 26, 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 ↗