Rebecca C. Robertson at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Rebecca C. Robertson
Judge · King County District Court
Biography
Professional career
- the Chief Presiding Judge of the King County District Court, West Division, in Washington State, a position she assumed following her unanimous appointment in 2021 and subsequent election in 2022, with her current term ending on January 11, 2027
- Before joining the judiciary, she worked as a prosecuting attorney and held the role of a Judge Pro Tem in various courts, gaining extensive experience in criminal law and courtroom procedure.
Education
- Seattle University School of Law in — J.D. (2000)
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1996
Additional information
- Beyond her courtroom duties, Judge Robertson has been a statewide leader in the judiciary.
- Prior to this role, she served for 12 years as a municipal court judge in Federal Way, where she focused on public safety, offender accountability, and protecting individual rights.
- She has held the role of President of the District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association, Chair of the Board for Judicial Administration’s Policy and Planning Committee, and Co-Chair of the Trial Court Security Task Force.
- Her work emphasizes judicial independence, courthouse security, and professional standards for public defenders.
- She also teaches courses on court budgeting, judicial independence, and criminal law and procedure to judges, lawyers, and government leaders.
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
King County District 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 ↗Service record and verification
- King County District Court · Judge · Current · present
- King County District Court · Chief Presiding Judge · Current · present