Judge J. Robert Leach

DIVISION I, POSITION 9

March 1, 2008–Present

Appointed by Governor Gregoire

Judge J. Robert Leach was born and raised in Seattle, Washington.

Judge Leach received his Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Washington in 1973 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington in 1976. For thirty-one years before his appointment, Judge Leach enjoyed a wide-ranging litigation practice in Snohomish County.

In January 2008, Governor Christine Gregoire appointed Judge Leach to Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals to succeed retiring Judge William W. Baker, effective March 1, 2008. Judge Leach continues to serve on the court. He has served as the Acting Chief Judge (2010-2012) and Chief Judge (2012-2014) of Division I and is currently serving his second term as the Presiding Chief Judge of the court. In 2015, the Washington Women Lawyers, King County Chapter, honored Judge Leach with the Betty B. Fletcher Judge of the Year Award.