Linda Lau at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Court of Appeals of Washington
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Linda Lau
Judge · Court of Appeals of Washington
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Washington, 2007-present
- Appointed to the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I in 2007, served until 2016, and is now a mediator, arbitrator, and litigation consultant with over 24 years of judicial service
- Prior to that, she was a King County Superior Court judge (1995–2007) and King County District Court judge (1992–1995).
- Began legal career as a law clerk/intern for Seattle Public Schools (1983) and as a deputy prosecuting attorney in King County (1984)
Education
- University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University) — J.D. (1983)
- in Far East and Slavic Languages, University of Washington — B.A. (1970)
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus — B.A.
Additional information
- Served on the Court of Appeals from 2007 until stepping down in 2016.
- Elected and re‐elected in 2008 and 2014.
- 27, 2007 to Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals.
- Appointments & Service: Appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire on Nov.
- Authored over 400 appellate opinions covering nearly every area of civil litigation.
- After retirement from the bench, Judge Lau works as a mediator, arbitrator, and litigation consultant at Judicial Dispute Resolution, LLC.
- Also held the role of Assistant Chief Asbestos Litigation Judge and presided over asbestos injury/wrongful death trials.
- As a trial judge, handled cases in business/commercial disputes, trust/estates, medical malpractice, insurance bad faith, construction defects, torts, real property, contracts, employment, and class actions.
- In summary, Judge Linda Lau’s career spans more than two decades in Washington’s judicial system, from local trial courts to the state’s appellate level, and she continues to contribute to dispute resolution and legal education in her post‐judicial role.
- She also serves as a volunteer judicial mentor to law students and participates in mock trials and oral argument exercises.
- Judge Lau is the daughter of immigrants and grew up working in her parents’ Seattle laundry business and food market in Beacon Hill.
- Taught English in Taiwan and worked in human relations for about 10 years before entering law.
- She lives in Seattle with her husband, Burns, and enjoys traveling.
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
Court of Appeals of Washington
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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Court of Appeals of Washington current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Court of Appeals of Washington current judicial profile ↗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 ↗