--- title: "Lori K. Smith | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lori-k-smith-judge-court-of-appeals-division-i-988-wa" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Lori K. Smith Court of Appeals - Division I · Judge ## Profile - Court: Court of Appeals - Division I - State: Washington - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Lori K. Smith is a nonpartisan judge on the Washington Court of Appeals, Division I, appointed in 2018 and re‐elected in 2023, with a career spanning public service, judicial leadership, and community advocacy - King County Washington Women Lawyers Judge of the Year (2011, 2023) - Judge, Court of Appeals of Washington, ?-present - In summary: Judge Lori K. Smith is a seasoned jurist with a record of judicial leadership, community service, and historic milestones in Washington’s legal system, now serving a full term on the Court of Appeals Division I ### Education - University of Washington-Seattle Campus — J.D. - University of Washington School of Law — J.D. - B.A. in Criminal Justice — Eastern Washington University ### Additional information - Re‐election: Won the November 7, 2023 general election with 98.6% of the vote - Appointed: August 1, 2018, by Governor Jay Inslee - Before her appellate role, Judge Smith served over six years as a King County Superior Court judge and six years as a King County Superior Court commissioner. - Unified Family Court Chief Judge and served on multiple committees, including the Executive, Budget, and Commissioner Selection Committees. - First African American woman appointed to the Washington State Appellate Court. - Co‐chair of the Minority and Justice Commission’s Education Committee and the Gender and Justice Commission’s Tribal and State Court Consortium. - Her legal career began in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, as a senior deputy in the Family Support Division and later as managing attorney for the Kent office. - Born in Columbus, Ohio, Judge Smith grew up in California, Guam, and New Hampshire before settling near Spokane, WA, following her father’s Air Force assignments. - She lives in Seattle with her husband and enjoys reading, live music, theater, sports, and travel. ## 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=988&orgid=121) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=988&orgid=121) - [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=988&orgid=121) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16221/lori-k-smith/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16221/lori-k-smith/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lori-k-smith-judge-court-of-appeals-division-i-988-wa", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lori-k-smith-judge-court-of-appeals-division-i-988-wa", "name": "Lori K. 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