--- title: "Sean Patrick O'Donnell | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sean-patrick-o-donnell-judge-king-county-superior-court-2470-wa" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Sean Patrick O'Donnell King County - Superior Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: King County - Superior Court - State: Washington - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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=2470&orgid=191) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=2470&orgid=191) - [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=2470&orgid=191) - [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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sean-patrick-o-donnell-judge-king-county-superior-court-2470-wa", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sean-patrick-o-donnell-judge-king-county-superior-court-2470-wa", "name": "Sean Patrick O'Donnell | KnowJudges", "description": "Sean Patrick O'Donnell, King County - Superior Court. 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O’Donnell is a King County Superior Court judge in Washington, elected in 2013, with decades of experience in prosecution, judicial leadership, and judicial reform, and is currently running for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4 in 2026 - In 2026, O’Donnell announced his run for State Supreme Court Position 4, a non‐partisan seat held by Justice Charles Johnson, who will “age out” in 2026 - He faces Court of Appeals Judge Ian Birk in the November 2026 general election - Lead Judge for the King County Involuntary Treatment Act Court at Harborview Hospital and as King County’s Special Inquiry Judge ### Education ### Additional information - O’Donnell has been awarded King County Bar Association’s “Outstanding Lawyer of the Year” (2004) and Puget Sound Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates’ “Judge of the Year” (2018). - O’Donnell was elected to the King County Superior Court bench in 2013 and has served on the court’s family law, civil, and criminal dockets. - Before becoming a judge, he was a senior deputy prosecutor for 12 years - handling landmark cases such as Washington’s first human trafficking prosecution and the first commercial sexual abuse of a minor case. - He is a graduate of Georgetown University and Seattle University School of Law. - His campaign emphasizes compassion, fairness, independence, and honesty, and has received endorsements from mayors, elected officials, victims’ advocates, and over 200 judicial officers statewide. - He has held leadership positions including two years as Chief Criminal Judge and two years as Chief Unified Family Court Judge. - He was also a member of the Green River Task Force, which prosecuted serial killer Gary L. Ridgway. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7133c6bd26c80972b86e0d31) — 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](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/pdf/GR/GA_GR_16_00_00.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.