Judge Christine Quinn-Brintnall

Judge Chris Quinn-Brintnall was elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2006 to the Court of Appeals, Division Two.  From 2004 to 2006, she served as the court’s Chief Judge.  Division Two hears appeals from Pierce County and 12 other counties in southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula.

Raised in Astoria, Oregon, Chris has lived in Pierce County since 1973.  She received a B.A. degree from The Evergreen State College and a law degree from the University of Puget Sound (1980).  At UPS she served on Law Review, was named Outstanding Woman Law Student for two years, and graduated with honors.

Judge Quinn-Brintnall is an experienced trial and appellate attorney.  Before being elected to the bench, she worked for 15 years in criminal law and six years in public civil law.  She argued many cases before the Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court, including 97 published cases that set precedent.

While still in law school, Chris worked for King County as a Rule 9 intern on felony prosecutions and appeals.  After completing law school, she clerked for Judge James A. Andersen at the Court of Appeals, Division I, and then worked for King County as a deputy prosecuting attorney.

For Pierce County government, Quinn-Brintnall was Chief Criminal Deputy (1983-86) under Prosecuting Attorney William Griffies and then senior criminal prosecutor and head of the appeals unit (1986-94) under Prosecuting Attorney John Ladenburg.  From 1994 to 2000, she worked in the civil division of the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on incorporations, land use, contracts, bankruptcy, elder care, labor law, and other issues.

Judge Quinn-Brintnall is a former state bar examiner in criminal procedure and evidence.  She is a current member of the state Board for Judicial Administration, WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee, and The Hon. Robert J. Bryan Inns of Court.  She judges Mock Trial competitions for the YMCA and law schools, enjoys speaking on appellate practice issues at continuing legal education seminars, and has headed the Education Committee of the national Council of Chief Judges.

In community affairs, Chris serves on the boards of the Emergency Food Network, Werlin Reading Teams, and Tacoma Youth Symphony.  She supports the Christian Brotherhood Academy and serves on its advisory committee.  Chris is a member of St. Matthew Episcopal Church and has served on its vestry.  For six years, she has been a volunteer reading tutor in the Tacoma public schools.  She is an active folk dancer and plays flute and piano.

Judge Quinn-Brintnall has two grown sons.  Her husband, Matt Temmel, is the Performance Audit Coordinator for Pierce County.