Lisa Mansfield at a glance
- Current role
- Magistrate
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Lisa Mansfield
Magistrate · King County - Municipal Courts - Seattle
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Pro Tempore, Thurston County District Court (since 2018)
- Lakewood Municipal Court Judge (2020–2024): Appointed September 21, 2020, to serve Lakewood, University Place, DuPont, and Steilacoom
- Magistrate Judge at Seattle Municipal Court and a former Municipal Court Judge for the City of Lakewood, Washington, with over 17 years of legal service in public defense and judicial roles
- In summary: Judge Lisa Mansfield is a seasoned Washington state judge and legal professional, currently serving as a Magistrate Judge in Seattle Municipal Court, with a background in public defense, municipal judiciary service, and community leadership
Education
- Juris Doctor (JD) — University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA
- Columbia University, New York, NY — B.A.
Additional information
- As of 2024, Lisa Mansfield serves as a Magistrate Judge at Seattle Municipal Court, where she handles contested civil traffic infractions, parking infractions, ordinance violations, and presides over mitigation and contested settlement conferences.
- Magistrates in this role are assigned work by the Presiding Judge and are expected to act with judicial integrity, timeliness, and respect for all parties.
- Sworn in virtually due to COVID-19 and committed to treating all parties with equal respect under the law.
- Former President, Pierce County Minority Bar Association
- Before entering the judiciary, Mansfield spent 17 years with the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel, working in the Dependency Unit, felony unit, and misdemeanor division.
- She also had experience in private legal practice.
- Board Member, Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP)
- Board of Trustees, Tacoma Art Museum
- Co-Chair, University of Washington Tacoma Legal Pathways Advisory Board
- Member, Washington Safe Babies State Advisory Board
- Her career reflects a strong focus on children’s justice, therapeutic courts, and community engagement, with recognition for leadership in these areas.
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
King County - Municipal Courts - Seattle
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 ↗