--- title: "R. W. Buzzard | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-w-buzzard-commissioner-lewis-county-superior-court-1973-wa" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # R. W. Buzzard Lewis County - Superior Court · Commissioner ## Profile - Court: Lewis County - Superior Court - State: Washington - Role: Commissioner - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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. ## 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=1973&orgid=483) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1973&orgid=483) - [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1973&orgid=483) - [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) - [Wikidata: R. W. Buzzard](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q76192945) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-w-buzzard-commissioner-lewis-county-superior-court-1973-wa", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-w-buzzard-commissioner-lewis-county-superior-court-1973-wa", "name": "R. W. Buzzard | KnowJudges", "description": "R. W. Buzzard, Lewis County - Superior Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-w-buzzard-commissioner-lewis-county-superior-court-1973-wa#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-w-buzzard-commissioner-lewis-county-superior-court-1973-wa#judge", "name": "R. W. 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