Melissa A. Hemstreet at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Melissa A. Hemstreet
Judge · Kitsap County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
Education
- Willamette University College of Law — J.D. (1997)
Additional information
- Appointed by Governor Jay Inslee on July 1, 2015 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anna M. Laurie.
- Admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1998
- Department 3 of the Kitsap County Superior Court.
- held the role of Therapeutic Court Committee Chair for the Superior Court Judge’s Association
- She has since presided over a variety of specialized courts, including the Family Treatment Court, Safe Babies Court, and the Girls Court.
- Before joining the bench, Hemstreet practiced law in Port Orchard, WA, initially as a contract public defender in municipal courts, later as a partner in a firm handling felony criminal defense, family law, wills, trusts, probate, and guardianship matters.
- She also held the role of Trustee, Vice President, and President of the Kitsap County Bar Association and on the Kitsap County Family Law Practice and Procedure Board.
- Hemstreet has been a member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Washington Defender Association, Washington Women Lawyers, and the Kitsap County Bar Association.
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
Kitsap 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 ↗