---
title: "Valerie S. Bouffiou | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-s-bouffiou-judge-snohomish-county-municipal-courts-lynnwood-1280-wa"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Valerie S. Bouffiou

Snohomish County - Municipal Courts - Lynnwood · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Snohomish County - Municipal Courts - Lynnwood
- 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=1280&orgid=642)
- [Official roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1280&orgid=642)
- [Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster](https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1280&orgid=642)
- [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/valerie-s-bouffiou-judge-snohomish-county-municipal-courts-lynnwood-1280-wa",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-s-bouffiou-judge-snohomish-county-municipal-courts-lynnwood-1280-wa",
      "name": "Valerie S. Bouffiou | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Valerie S. Bouffiou, Snohomish County - Municipal Courts - Lynnwood. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-26",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-s-bouffiou-judge-snohomish-county-municipal-courts-lynnwood-1280-wa#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-s-bouffiou-judge-snohomish-county-municipal-courts-lynnwood-1280-wa#judge",
      "name": "Valerie S. Bouffiou",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-s-bouffiou-judge-snohomish-county-municipal-courts-lynnwood-1280-wa",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Snohomish County - Municipal Courts - Lynnwood"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/index.cfm?fa=court_dir.persondetail&indid=1280&orgid=642"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Washington",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/washington"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Valerie S. Bouffiou",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-s-bouffiou-judge-snohomish-county-municipal-courts-lynnwood-1280-wa"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Former Snohomish County prosecutor (District, Juvenile, and Superior Court) for over 7 years
- Criminal defense attorney
- Administrative Law Judge and hearing examiner
- Judge Bouffiou emphasizes “compassionate justice balanced with accountability”, aiming to treat all individuals with dignity and respect, address underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior, and foster collaboration among the court, city, and community stakeholders
- She has also championed therapeutic justice programs to reduce recidivism

### Education

- Seattle University School of Law (cum laude) and University of Washington.

### Additional information

- In 2023, she led the initiative to convert the position from part-time appointment to a full-time elected judge due to caseloads exceeding 50,000 filings annually.
- In April 2023, she announced her candidacy to retain the elected seat.
- Appointed: January 3, 2022, by Mayor Nicola Smith and unanimously approved by the Lynnwood City Council.
- The Presiding Judge of the City of Lynnwood’s Municipal Court, appointed in 2021 and now serving in a full-time elected role after a council-approved conversion to address rising caseloads.
- Prior service: 8+ years as a Judge Pro Tem in 16 courts across Snohomish and King Counties.
- Judge Bouffiou is active in the community, serving as part-time faculty in a paralegal program, YMCA board member, and volunteer in local “Law Days” events.



## 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.