Ruth E. Reukauf at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Ruth E. Reukauf
Judge · Yakima County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge on the Yakima County Superior Court in Washington, appointed in 2004 by former Governor Gary F. Locke to fill a vacancy created by the elevation of Hon. Michael W. Leavitt to the U.S. District Court
- Previous role: Presiding judge of Yakima County District Court (2000–2004)
- Early career: held the role of a commissioner and later elected judge of the Yakima County District Court in 1998
- Judicial leadership: Assistant dean of the Washington State Judicial College; introduced the Color of Justice program in Yakima to promote legal careers for women from marginalized groups
Education
- University of Puget Sound School of Law — J.D. (1987)
- Montana State University — B.A. (1984)
Additional information
- Miiakah Ann Meitaja Jane Caldera, both filed September 30, 2026.
- Local Hero Award from the Washington State Bar Association (2019)
- Appointment: Appointed 2004 by Gov.
- Prosecutorial work: Deputy prosecuting attorney for King and Yakima Counties
- handling felony sex crimes and criminal division assignments.
- Recent filings show Judge Reukauf presiding over multiple active family and domestic violence cases in Yakima County, such as Shawna Marie Walker v.
- Kassandra Leah Moore and Susanna Gomez v.
- Selection method: Yakima County Superior Court judges are selected by nonpartisan election
- In summary: Judge Ruth E. Reukauf is an experienced Washington state judge with a background in prosecution, judicial leadership, and judicial education, now serving on the Yakima County Superior Court and actively handling family and domestic violence cases.
- Member of the Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Gender and Justice Commission
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
Yakima 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 ↗