Matthew H. Thomas at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Matthew H. Thomas
Judge · Pierce County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge of the Pierce County Superior Court in Washington, assigned to Department 13, and was appointed to the bench by Governor Jay Inslee in 2020 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Hon. Kathryn J. Nelson
- Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Pierce County (1990–1996), lead attorney on the Entitlement Fraud Task Force
- In summary, Judge Matthew H. Thomas is a seasoned legal professional with over two decades in federal and state prosecution, international legal advisory, and academic service, now serving as a judge in Pierce County’s Superior Court
- Teaching & Service: Adjunct faculty at UW Tacoma and Pierce College; volunteer judge for UW School of Law; civic roles in Tacoma Downtown Lions Club and local sailing club
- Detail with the U.S. Department of Justice Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Education
- B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa — Washington State University (double major) J.D. — University of Washington School of Law
Additional information
- Assistant U.S. Attorney (1996–2019) for the Tacoma Branch
- handling a range of civil and criminal matters.
- Active in Superior Court committees on local rules, education, civil case management, and criminal justice procedures.
- handling federal criminal and civil cases in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. held the role of Resident Legal Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua, establishing an anti-corruption training program.
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
Pierce County - Superior 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 ↗