--- title: "Lisa O'Toole | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lisa-o-toole-judge-king-county-district-court-east-division-bellevue-facility-11076-wa" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Lisa O'Toole King County District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: King County District Court - State: Washington - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### photography recording Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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 judge [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### limitations on recording Scope: statewide If a Washington judge limits courtroom photography or recording, GR 16 requires particularized findings on the record and treats open access as presumed. Evidence excerpt: Open access is presumed; limitations on access must be supported by reasons found by the judge to be sufficiently compelling to outweigh that presumption [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=11076&orgid=1054) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=11076&orgid=1054) - [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=11076&orgid=1054) - [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lisa-o-toole-judge-king-county-district-court-east-division-bellevue-facility-11076-wa", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lisa-o-toole-judge-king-county-district-court-east-division-bellevue-facility-11076-wa", "name": "Lisa O'Toole | KnowJudges", "description": "Lisa O'Toole, King County District Court. 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(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. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7133c6bd26c80972b86e0d31) — 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](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.