Judicial Officers

Judges & Commissioners


The Superior Court of Pierce County is organized into as many departments as there are judges authorized by law. Each departmental judge employs a full-time judicial assistant and court reporter. Seven full-time court commissioners are employed by the court. The commissioners preside over and decide matters in various divisions such as Civil, Juvenile, Civil Mental Health and Adoptions.

Individual Information


Use the photos below to view individual judge and commissioner profiles. The departments are numbered consecutively in the order of their creation, as follows.
  1. Superior Court Judges Group Photo

    Superior Court Judges Group Photo

    View a group picture of Pierce County judges and commissioners.

  2. Superior Court Department 1

    Superior Court Department 1

    Honorable James R. Orlando 798.7578

  3. Superior Court Department 2

    Superior Court Department 2

    Honorable Timothy L. Ashcraft

  4. Superior Court Department 3

    Superior Court Department 3

    Honorable Michael E. Schwartz 798.7576

  5. Superior Court Department 4

    Superior Court Department 4

    Honorable Bryan Chushcoff 798.7574

  6. Superior Court Department 5

    Superior Court Department 5

    Honorable Shelly K. Speir

  7. Superior Court Department 6

    Superior Court Department 6

    Honorable Jack Nevin 798.7502

  8. Superior Court Department 7

    Superior Court Department 7

    Honorable Jerry Costello 798.7568

  9. Superior Court Department 8

    Superior Court Department 8

    Honorable Grant Blinn

  10. Superior Court Department 9

    Superior Court Department 9

    Honorable Edmund Murphy 798.3655

  11. Superior Court Department 10

    Superior Court Department 10

    Honorable Garold E. Johnson 798.7572

  12. Superior Court Department 11

    Superior Court Department 11

    Honorable G. Helen Whitener 798.7571

  13. Superior Court Department 12

    Superior Court Department 12

    Honorable Stephanie A. Arend 798.7562

  14. Superior Court Department 13

    Superior Court Department 13

    Honorable Kathryn J. Nelson 798.7564

  15. Superior Court Department 14

    Superior Court Department 14

    Honorable Susan Keers Serko 798.3646

  16. Superior Court Department 15

    Superior Court Department 15

    Honorable Gretchen Leanderson 798.3966

  17. Superior Court Department 16

    Superior Court Department 16

    Honorable Elizabeth Martin Presiding 798-6630

  18. Superior Court Department 17

    Superior Court Department 17

    Honorable Karena Kirkendoll 798-6640

  19. Superior Court Department 18

    Superior Court Department 18

    Honorable Stanley J. Rumbaugh 798.6650

  20. Superior Court Department 19

    Superior Court Department 19

    Honorable Philip K. Sorensen 798.7735

  21. Superior Court Department 20

    Superior Court Department 20

    Honorable Kitty-Ann van Doorninck 798.6688

  22. Superior Court Department 21

    Superior Court Department 21

    Honorable Frank E. Cuthbertson 798.7625

  23. Superior Court Department 22

    Superior Court Department 22

    Honorable John R. Hickman 798.6779

  24. Superior Court Commissioners

    Superior Court Commissioners

    Eight full-time court commissioners are employed by the court. The commissioners preside over and decide matters in various divisions such as Civil, Juvenile, Civil Mental Health, Adoptions, and Criminal.

  • Commissioner Meagan Foley
  • Commissioner Mark Gelman - Presiding
  • Commissioner Robyn Lindsay
  • Commissioner Diana L. Kiesel
  • Commissioner Clint Johnson
  • Commissioner Craig Adams
  • Commissioner Barbara McInvaille
  • Commissioner Sabrina Ahrens
Commissioner Services, 253.798.6697