Whitney M. Rivera at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Whitney M. Rivera
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Rivera was appointed to the Snohomish County Superior Court in April 2024, filling the seat vacated by Judge Anita Farris, and was retained by county voters in November 2024
- The first Asian American Pacific Islander woman to serve on the Snohomish County Superior Court bench, appointed in 2024 after a long career as a public defender and municipal court judge.
- Edmonds Municipal Court Judge: Presided over the court for over three years, restarting the Community Court program to address underlying issues of court users
- Law Clerk: held the role of a law clerk to Hon
- She lives in Edmonds with her partner, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Paul Thompson, their son, and three rescue dogs
Education
- in Political Science and Literature — University of Washington — B.A.
- Boston College Law School — J.D.
Additional information
- Awards: Received the Presidential Award from the District & Municipal Court Judges’ Association in 2023 for legislative work.
- Judge Anita L. Farris in 2006.
- The first woman of AAPI descent on the Snohomish County Superior Court bench.
- Active in local nonprofits, serving on boards for the Hazel Miller Foundation, Edmonds Food Bank, and Edmonds College Foundation.
- Public Defender (14 years): Served most of her career with the Snohomish County Public Defender Association, including as a trial attorney, misdemeanor unit supervisor, and appellate public defender at the Washington Appellate Project.
- She argued cases before the Washington Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court.
- She grew up in Snohomish County, graduated from Edmonds Woodway High School, and is of Chamorro (Guam) descent.
- She also volunteers teaching an introduction to law class at Everett High School.
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
Snohomish 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 ↗