Norma Rodriguez at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Norma Rodriguez
Judge · Benton County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Nonpartisan Superior Court Judge for Benton and Franklin Counties, Washington, appointed by Governor Jay Inslee on February 16, 2022, to replace Cameron Mitchell
- Washington State Superior Court judge serving on the Benton & Franklin Counties Superior Court bench, appointed in 2022, with over 29 years of legal experience and a background in criminal and civil litigation
- Early Career: First in her family to graduate from college; opened a private law practice in Pasco in 1994
Education
- Bachelor’s degree and J.D. from Gonzaga University.
Additional information
- Her term was set to end in 2023.
- handling criminal, personal injury, workers’ compensation, probate, bankruptcy, and civil cases.
- Over 29 years as an attorney
- handling thousands of felony and civil cases; recognized for leadership in the WSBA Litigation Committee.
- Listed among the administrative judges for the Benton & Franklin Superior Court.
- Judicial Service: held the role of judge pro tem in municipal and district courts; member of the Washington State Bar Association; secretary/treasurer of the Benton & Franklin County Bar Association; vice president of the Latino Bar Association of Eastern Washington.
- She and her husband Mario live in the Tri-Cities, Washington, and have raised their children in the area.
- She has received multiple recognitions, including Benton Franklin Legal Aid and Adult Drug Court Certificates of Recognition.
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
Benton 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 ↗