Mary Kay Becker at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Court of Appeals of Washington
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mary Kay Becker
Judge · Court of Appeals of Washington
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Washington, 1994-present
- Mary Kay Becker (1946–) is a retired Washington state judge who served on the Washington Court of Appeals from 1994 to 2019, with a career that also included state legislature, private legal practice, and community leadership roles
- In 1994, Becker was appointed to the Washington Court of Appeals, Division I, replacing retiring Judge Marshall Forrest
- Served two years as Chief Judge of Division I and one term as Presiding Chief Judge of the entire court
Education
- She graduated from Lake Quinault High School, obtained a B.A. in English from Stanford University in 1966, and later a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1982.
Additional information
- Her tenure ended on January 13, 2019, after which she retired from the bench.
- She was re‐elected by voters in 2000, 2006, and 2012.
- In 2004, she unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Washington Supreme Court, losing to James Johnson.
- She also chaired Western Washington University’s Board of Trustees (1989–1994), served on the Whatcom County Council (1984–85), and was part of Washington’s first constitutional redistricting commission.
- From 1975 to 1983, she held the role of a Democratic state representative for Washington’s 42nd district
- She co‐authored the 1974 novel Superspill, a fictional account of a major Puget Sound oil spill that helped spur public support for a tanker ban.
- After moving to Bellingham in 1969, Becker began as a paralegal for Northwest Washington Legal Services.
- Date of birth: 1946
- focusing on juvenile and adult sentencing, agriculture, environmental affairs, and social services funding.
- In summary: Mary Kay Becker’s career spans public service, legal practice, and judicial leadership, with a strong record in environmental, social, and legislative issues before her long service on the Washington Court of Appeals.
- Mary Kay Becker was born in Aberdeen, Washington, and grew up at her family’s ocean resort in Kalaloch.
- Birth place: Aberdeen, Washington, and grew up at her family’s ocean resort at Kalaloch
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 ↗