Judge Elaine Houghton

DIVISION II, POSITION 4

June 28, 1993–April 30, 2010

Appointed by Governor Lowry; Retired

Judge Houghton was born in Seattle where she graduated from Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington. Judge Houghton first worked as a registered nurse specializing in emergency medicine. In 1979, she graduated from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. She has practiced law in both Washington and Alaska. She was appointed and later elected to the Court of Appeals bench in 1993. She was re-elected to a full six-year term in 1996. She served as a Chief Judge from 1997-1999, and from 2006-2008. She also served as Presiding Chief Judge for all divisions of the Court of Appeals from 2004-2005.

While in private practice, Judge Houghton handled complex civil litigation cases. In 1991, the Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association chose her as the first woman to be named Trial Lawyer of the Year. She has also been listed in the book, The Best Lawyers in America. The University of Puget Sound School of Law honored her as one of its top 10 graduates from the school’s first 20 years.

Judge Houghton has served on the Board of the Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association and the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, and as chair of the Work Force Diversity Subcommittee of the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission. Judge Houghton is the author of a chapter on appellate practice in Washington Methods of Practice. She frequently speaks to the bar and public on trial and appellate issues.

Judge Houghton retired in April 2010.