--- title: "Matthew Clucas | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-clucas-commissioner-kitsap-county-superior-court-5697-wa" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Matthew Clucas Kitsap County - Superior Court · Commissioner ## Profile - Court: Kitsap County - Superior Court - State: Washington - Role: Commissioner - 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=5697&orgid=447) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=5697&orgid=447) - [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=5697&orgid=447) - [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/matthew-clucas-commissioner-kitsap-county-superior-court-5697-wa", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-clucas-commissioner-kitsap-county-superior-court-5697-wa", "name": "Matthew Clucas | KnowJudges", "description": "Matthew Clucas, Kitsap County - Superior Court. 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Clucas is a Court Commissioner for the Kitsap County Superior Court in Washington, appointed July 30, 2018, presiding over dependency, family law, protection order, and juvenile cases. - Private practice (2003–2010) in criminal defense, family law, probate, real estate, and civil litigation. - Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Kitsap County (1994–2003), instrumental in creating the Adult Drug Court - Matthew L. Clucas serves as Court Commissioner for Kitsap County Superior Court, based in Port Orchard, WA - Earlier judicial service: Judge pro tempore in Kitsap and Jefferson County district and municipal courts ### Education - B.A. in Political Science, California State University, Long Beach (1990) J.D., Willamette University College of Law (1993) ### Additional information - Appointed: July 30, 2018, by the Superior Court Judges. - Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Award (2015) - Kitsap County Bar Association Humanitarian Award (2002) - Assigned to the dependency, family law, and protection order dockets and oversees juvenile court programs such as the Pre‐Adjudication Treatment Court (KPAC), truancy court, and at‐risk youth court. - He also co‐chairs the Washington State Superior Court Judge’s Association Family & Juvenile Law Committee and participates in judicial education initiatives. - Mediation work at Tolman Clucas, PLLC - focusing on family, workplace, and neighborhood disputes. - Robert J. Bryan Inn of Court Civility Award ## 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.