Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of King County Superior Court Judge Lori K. Smith to the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division 1. With the appointment, Smith becomes the first African American woman in state history to be appointed or selected to serve as a Washington State Appellate Court judge. She will replace Judge Michael Spearman, who is retiring.
Smith has served as a judge in the King County Superior Court since 2012, including work as the Unified Family Court Chief Judge. Prior to her judicial appointment to the superior court, she served as a King County Superior Court Commissioner where her work involved domestic violence protection orders, child support and other family law issues. In addition, Smith has been a “steady supporter” of the annual Youth and Law Forum held at First A.M.E. Church of Seattle.
Before her judicial career, Smith served in the King County Prosecutor’s Office for 20 years including six years as a senior deputy prosecuting attorney and the managing attorney of the Kent Family Support Division Office.
Smith serves on King County Superior Court’s executive committee, budget committee and commissioner selection committee. She was named King County Washington Women’s Lawyers Judge of the Year in 2011 along with her fellow Court Commissioners. She also received Washington State Bar Association Random Acts of Professionalism Award. She is currently the co-chair of the Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice Commission education committee and co-chair of the Washington State Tribal and State Court Consortium. She has acted as mentor to young people of color over her entire career.
“Lori has a real commitment to the role of the judiciary in service to the community,” Inslee said. “She is solution-oriented, collaborative, and will make an outstanding addition to the appellate bench.”
Smith received her law degree from University of Washington. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Eastern Washington University.
Her appointment is effective August 2018.
