Ronald E. Cox at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Court of Appeals of Washington
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Ronald E. Cox
Judge · Court of Appeals of Washington
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Court of Appeals of Washington, 1994-present
- Retired in 2018 and now works as an arbitrator, mediator, and appellate analyst at JAMS, a private dispute resolution firm
- Ronald Cox was a judge on the Washington Court of Appeals, Division I
- Judge of the Year (King County Washington Women Lawyers)
- held the role of Presiding Chief Judge of the entire court and Chief Judge of Division One (Seattle-based)
- Active in the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission and as a part-time lecturer at UW School of Law, teaching appellate advocacy
- Before joining the court, he was a partner at the law firm now known as K&L Gates LLP.
Education
- U.S. Military Academy at West Point — B.A.
- University of Washington School of Law — J.D.
Additional information
- Distinguished jurist on the Washington State Court of Appeals for over 23 years, serving from January 1995 until his retirement in May 2018.
- Re-elected by voters in 2000, 2006, and 2012.
- Elected to this position in 1994 and took office in January 1995.
- Elected to the Washington Court of Appeals in 1994, taking office in January 1995.
- President of the King County Bar Foundation, funding legal services for the poor and scholarships for minority law students.
- Outstanding Judge of the Year (King County Bar Association).
- Raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, and graduated from Punahou School.
- Served in the U.S. Army in Germany, Vietnam, and the U.S., completing Ranger and Airborne training.
- Awards include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star with “V” device and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, and others.
- Served on bar association judicial screening and evaluation committees and task forces on judicial transparency, trial court case delays, and voter information on judicial candidates.
- Longtime mentor to first-year law students.
- Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Alumnus Award (UW School of Law).
- Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award (UW Alumni Association).
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
Court of Appeals of Washington
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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Court of Appeals of Washington current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Court of Appeals of Washington current judicial profile ↗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 ↗