Yvonne Chin at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Yvonne Chin
Judge · King County District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Nonpartisan judge of the King County District Court’s West Division in Seattle, appointed in January 2026, with a background in civil legal aid, public interest law, and diverse litigation experience
- She also held the role of Judge and Magistrate Pro Tempore in Seattle Municipal Court and practiced in Washington, Illinois, and federal court
- Judge Chin emphasizes equity, access to justice, fairness, and respect for all parties, drawing on her years of public service and legal practice to ensure courts are fair, accessible, and grounded in the law
Education
- in Political Science (with a correlate in Philosophy), Vassar College — B.A.
Additional information
- Her term runs through January 11, 2027, and she is running for re‐election in the November 3, 2026 general election.
- Unanimously appointed by the King County Council on January 27, 2026 to the West Division of the King County District Court.
- Defamation, personal injury, immigration, and Public Records Act cases
- Before joining the bench, Judge Chin was a dedicated civil legal aid and public interest attorney with the Sexual Violence Law Center (as Legal Director) and the ACLU of Washington.
- Rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by multiple local bar associations, including the King County Bar Association, King County Women Lawyers, the Latina/o Bar Association, and the Loren Miller Bar Association.
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
King County District 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 ↗