Judge Stephen J. Dwyer

Judge Stephen J. Dwyer. The most senior member of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Judge Stephen Dwyer was elected to Division One in November 2005, following 11 years of service on the Snohomish County District and Superior Courts. In 2013-2014, Judge Dwyer served as the Presiding Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals (all three divisions), having previously served as the Chief Judge of Division One (2010-2012) and as Division One's Acting Chief Judge (2008-2010).

Judge Dwyer is active in judicial and bar association educational endeavors. He served for over a dozen years as a member of the Annual Judicial Conference Planning and Education Committee. He has co-authored three published law review articles, numerous judicial and legal education materials, and is a frequent presenter at judicial and bar educational conferences.

In 2003, Judge Dwyer was honored with the Washington State Bar Association's "Outstanding Judge" award. In 2001, he received a state "Judge of the Year" award from the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association.

Judge Dwyer graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1979. He graduated, with Honors, from the University of Washington School of Law in 1982. From 1982 to 1984, he served at Division One as a law clerk to the Hon. Ward Williams. He was then engaged in the private practice of law for 10 years, leaving to join the judiciary. Prior to assuming the bench, he served for 11 years as a city council member in Edmonds, where his family currently resides.