Lisa O'Toole at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Lisa O'Toole
Judge · King County District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Associate attorney at Bogle & Gates in Seattle (1987–1993)
- Judge pro tem in King County District Court and various municipal courts
- Judge Lisa O’Toole is a nonpartisan King County District Court judge, assigned to the Bellevue Courthouse and serving as East Division Presiding Judge, with over 30 years of legal experience in prosecution, private practice, and judicial service
Education
- cum laude — Seattle University School of Law (previously University of Puget Sound School of Law) — J.D. (1987)
- in Economics (and minor in History) — Whitman College — B.A. (1984)
Additional information
- Lisa O’Toole has been elected to the King County District Court (KCDC) since 2014 and is currently assigned to the Bellevue Courthouse, where she hears both criminal and civil cases daily.
- Her term runs until January 11, 2027.
- Deputy prosecuting attorney in the King County Criminal Division (1993–2002, 2008–2011), trying cases and handling appeals.
- Of counsel at Corr Cronin (2006).
- focusing on civil litigation.
- Active in the District and Municipal Court Judges Association (Education and Diversity Committees) and serves on the City of Bellevue Probation Advisory Board.
- O’Toole has served on multiple judicial committees, including the Rules Committee, Probation Committee, and as chair of the court’s pro tem judge training program for over 8 years.
- She also volunteers with youth programs like We the People Constitutional Law and the Children’s Justice Center’s Kid’s Court.
- She serves as the East Division Presiding Judge and is a member of the Court’s Executive Committee and chair of the Personnel Committee.
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 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 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 ↗