R. W. Buzzard at a glance
- Current role
- Commissioner
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
R. W. Buzzard
Commissioner · Lewis County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- The son of Hon. Steve Buzzard, a former Chehalis municipal court judge, and Missy Buzzard, former Centralia mayor
Education
- cum laude — Seattle University School of Law — J.D. (2000)
- M.B.A. — City University of Seattle (1999)
- Eastern Washington University — B.A. (1996)
Additional information
- 2018 — Tackled a civil defendant who punched an attorney.
- His judicial work has included direct intervention in courtroom disturbances, such as physically restraining a civil defendant who assaulted an attorney in April 2018, and chasing down two criminal suspects who attempted to flee in October 2018.
- Appointed to the Centralia Municipal Court in 2003 and elected to the Lewis County bench in 2004.
- Nonpartisan district court judge for Lewis County, a rural Washington jurisdiction handling misdemeanors, traffic cases, and preliminary felony matters.
- His family has a long tradition of public service in Lewis County’s judicial and civic leadership.
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
Lewis 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 ↗