Robert E. Olson at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Robert E. Olson
Judge · Whatcom County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge in Department 1 of the Whatcom County Superior Court in Bellingham, Washington, appointed on August 8, 2018, to replace the late Judge Ira J. Uhrig
- Senior Deputy Public Defender for Whatcom County (2001–2010)
- Assistant Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office for eight years
- General Counsel to Western Washington University for two years, also within the state attorney general’s office
- Professor of business law for nearly 20 years
Education
- He held the role of a captain in military intelligence for the U.S. Army and Washington Army National Guard before completing his J.D. at Seattle University School of Law in 1995.
- B.A. in Political Science and Government from Pacific Lutheran University in 1987.
Additional information
- Associate attorney at Lester & Associates (1999–2001) handling misdemeanor criminal cases.
- Appointed by Governor Jay R. Inslee to fill a vacancy created by Judge Uhrig’s passing.
- handling cases such as probate, guardianship, estate administration, and other civil matters.
- representing Child Protective Services and the Department of Licensing, and appearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings for foster care, day care, and adult family home licensing.
- His contact information is listed in the county’s official directory.
- His military service earned him the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.
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
Whatcom 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 ↗