Nancy N. Retsinas at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Nancy N. Retsinas
Judge · Clark County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge on the Clark County Superior Court in Washington, appointed by Governor Jay Inslee in April 2021, with a background in law, mediation, and community service
Education
- in Communications — University of Portland — B.A. (1986)
Additional information
- Appointed on April 26, 2021 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Hon. Daniel L. Stahnke.
- J.D. — University of Oregon School of Law, 1991 She practiced law as a sole practitioner for nearly 30 years
- The last six years of her legal career were spent as a mediator
- Judge Retsinas serves in Department 1 of the Clark County Superior Court, which handles a range of cases including family, probate, and other matters.
- Prior to this, she was a commissioner pro tempore for the Clark County Superior Court, a judge pro tempore for the Clark County District Court, and a hearings officer for the Vancouver School District.
- handling consumer protection, family law, criminal law, and juvenile delinquency cases.
- focusing on prenuptial agreements and divorce disputes.
- Retsinas has served on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Center and co‐founded the Two Rivers Institute for Dispute Resolution, where she taught peacemaking strategies.
- She was named Volunteer of the Year by the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers 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
Clark 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 ↗