Tirsa Butler at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Tirsa Butler
Judge · Mason County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Elected judge of the Mason County Superior Court in Washington State, serving since her election in November 2024 to replace retiring Judge Daniel Goodell
- In April 2026, Judge Butler contributed to a Shelton-Mason County Journal article on bail decisions, discussing the importance of the bail-setting process without detailing specific cases
Education
Additional information
- Term start: Statutory term began January 13, 2025
- Governor Jay Inslee granted a short-term appointment from January 1–12, 2025, to allow her to begin work early
- Election: Won the November 2024 general election to succeed Judge Daniel Goodell
- Judge Butler’s appointment follows the retirement of Judge Daniel Goodell, and she is one of two newly elected judicial officers in Washington’s 2024 elections to begin service early.
- Listed in the official Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts judicial roster.
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
Mason 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 ↗