Lee Grochmal at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Lee Grochmal
Judge · Whatcom County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Managing Partner (2014–present) at Grochmal & Fryer
- Governor Jay Inslee appointed Judge Grochmal to the Whatcom County Superior Court bench in February 2019, succeeding Judge Charles R. Snyder, who retired
- Washington State trial judge appointed to the Whatcom County Superior Court in 2019, bringing 25 years of legal experience in criminal defense, bankruptcy law, and public service
- Private Practice (2008–2014) at Lester & Hyldahl, PLLC
- Public Defender (1995–2008) at Whatcom County Public Defender’s Office
- Judge Grochmal has been active in education and outreach, speaking at Meridian High School, teaching financial literacy via WorkSource, and volunteering legal services
Education
- Northeastern University School of Law, with clinics in prisoner’s rights, death penalty, and domestic violence law — J.D. (1994)
- in Sociology and Political Science, George Washington University — B.A. (1989)
Additional information
- focusing on criminal defense and consumer bankruptcy.
- representing criminal defendants in Whatcom County courts and bankruptcy filers in federal court.
- handling serious felony cases and supervising attorneys.
- She presides over cases in Department 3 of the court.
- Judge Grochmal is married to her former law partner, Tom Fryer, and enjoys golf, skiing, and mountain biking.
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
Whatcom 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 ↗