--- title: "Patrick T. Johnson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-t-johnson-judge-spokane-county-district-court-1368-wa" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Patrick T. Johnson Spokane County - District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Spokane County - District Court - State: Washington - Role: Judge - 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=1368&orgid=662) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1368&orgid=662) - [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1368&orgid=662) - [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/patrick-t-johnson-judge-spokane-county-district-court-1368-wa", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-t-johnson-judge-spokane-county-district-court-1368-wa", "name": "Patrick T. Johnson | KnowJudges", "description": "Patrick T. Johnson, Spokane County - District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-07-26", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-t-johnson-judge-spokane-county-district-court-1368-wa#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-t-johnson-judge-spokane-county-district-court-1368-wa#judge", "name": "Patrick T. Johnson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-t-johnson-judge-spokane-county-district-court-1368-wa", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Spokane County - District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1368&orgid=662" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Washington", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/washington" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Patrick T. Johnson", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-t-johnson-judge-spokane-county-district-court-1368-wa" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Before becoming a judge, Johnson was Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Spokane County (1998–2019) - Adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law and Park University ### Education - Gonzaga University School of Law — J.D. (1998) - Central Washington University, Business Administration (Finance) — B.S. (1994) ### Additional information - The elected Judge 1 of the Spokane County District Court in Washington, serving since 2018 and currently handling arraignments, jail/DUI first appearances, and Veterans Court cases. - Elected: 2018, re‐elected in 2022; term ends January 11, 2027 - Served in the U.S. Army (1989–1992) as a Psychological Operations Specialist, Airborne, and later as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves JAG Corps in Trial Defense Services (2001–2020). - handling major crimes, drug/property offenses, special assaults, juvenile cases, chronic offenders, and district court matters. - Current Assignments: Arraignments, Jail/DUI 1st Appearance, Veterans Court - Former Board Member, Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) - Volunteer with Vulnerable Adult Links United (VALU) ## 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.