Judge Leonard J. Feldman

Judge Leonard J. Feldman was appointed to the Washington Court of Appeals by Governor Jay Inslee in March 2023. Before joining the court, Judge Feldman practiced as a litigation attorney at Heller Ehrman (1992-2008), Stoel Rives (2008-14), and Peterson Wampold Rosato Feldman & Luna (2014-23). As an attorney, Judge Feldman focused on appellate practice before the Ninth Circuit and the Washington appellate courts. He was counsel of record and argued in the United States Supreme Court in City and County of San Francisco v. Sheehan (2015) and County of Los Angeles v. Mendez (2017). From 1991-92, he served as a law clerk to Judge Jerome Farris of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Judge Feldman currently teaches torts at Seattle University School of Law. He was nominated to receive the Outstanding Faculty Award in 2021 and 2023 and is a co-author of Keeton, Sargentich, Keating, Fleming, and Feldman's Tort and Accident Law (5th ed. 2023). He is also a frequent writer and speaker on topics relating to appellate practice. Among other articles, he has co-authored three articles with Washington Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Dwyer regarding appellate brief writing, oral argument, and discretionary review.

In 2006, Judge Feldman received the Washington State Bar Association's Pro Bono Award for his work in appeals that raise important civil rights issues. He has also received two Certificates of Appreciation from the Ninth Circuit, one for his work as a District Coordinator for the Ninth Circuit Pro Bono Program and the other for teaching an appellate practice course at the University of Washington School of Law.

Judge Feldman received his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in 1987. In 1991, he received his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he was twice awarded the Sears Prize (given to the top two students on the basis of grades) and graduated magna cum laude. Judge Feldman and his wife have lived most of their lives in the Seattle area, where they currently reside.