C. Kimi Kondo

Seattle Municipal Court

Position Two

Education: No information submitted

Occupation: No information submitted

Statement: Incumbent Presiding Judge C. Kimi Kondo has served the people in Seattle since 1990. Rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the Loren Miller and King County Bar Associations, she is currently the Mental Health Court judge and manages the master jury calendar. Please visit www.ckimikondo.com for more information, current ratings and endorsements.

“Access to justice requires that defendants and victims have their cases heard fairly, impartially and promptly. These are my core values.”

“Defendants who opt into the therapeutic mental health court are linked to health care professionals, social service agencies and housing opportunities. Community safety is enhanced. Taxpayers are saved the high cost of repeatedly incarcerating a population that is often homeless and without resources.”

Judge Kondo has presiding over hundreds of domestic violence, driving under the influence and general jury trials. She has adjudicated thousands of motions, bench trials and dispositions.

As a member of the DOJ police reform Crisis Intervention Committee, she works with criminal justice partners to revise training protocols for officers who encounter people in behavioral crisis. In 2013, she created an equitable search warrant duty rotation for bench officers in response to increasing requests for blood search warrants. Warrants are requested telephonically and reviewed via email when time is of the essence.

“Requests for alcohol, marijuana and drug warrants have risen due to changes in laws. Seattle officers are now assured that judges are available 24/7, including holidays, to review affidavits and issue warrants.”

As Presiding Judge, she oversees the Court’s $27.8 million budget with $45.5 million of revenues to the City’s general fund. Six other judges and all magistrates look to her for leadership, as do defense attorneys and prosecutors who attend monthly bench bar meetings.

A long time resident of the Central Area, Judge Kondo is committed to racial and gender justice, and diversity in Washington’s courts. All Seattle Municipal Court judges, Mayor Ed Murray, many City Council members, and the nine members of the Washington State Supreme Court advocate her retention.

“I am pleased to endorse and support Judge Kondo for re-election to Seattle’s Municipal Court,” says Justice Mary Yu. “I encourage voters to retain her knowledge, experience and leadership.

”Also endorsing are the King County Democrats, the 11th, 32nd, 34th, 37th, 36th, and 43rd Dems, the Young Democrats, the MLK Labor Council, the Metropolitan Democratic Club and the Women’s Political Caucus. Many statewide judges and community leaders also back her campaign.

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