Judge Ian S. Birk

Judge Ian S. Birk was appointed to the Washington State Court of Appeals by Governor Jay Inslee in April 2022, and ran unopposed to retain his seat in November 2022. Before joining the court, Judge Birk practiced law as a civil litigator in Seattle for 20 years and was a partner at Keller Rohrback L.L.P., where his law practice emphasized insurance and consumer protection law. As a lawyer, Judge Birk represented clients at trial and on appeal in state and federal courts. Judge Birk began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to a Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court.

While in private practice, Judge Birk served for more than 10 years as a volunteer attorney with the King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinics, providing free legal assistance to people who could not afford an attorney. He has frequently been asked to speak to help educate lawyers on a range of legal issues, especially concerning insurance law. He is a board member of the Washington Courts Historical Society.

Judge Birk is a lifelong resident of Washington, and earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Washington. He has bicycled in 23 of Washington's 39 counties. Judge Birk lives in Seattle with his wife.