Judge Marywave VanDeren

DIVISION II, POSITION 2

May 10, 2004–May 31, 2013

Appointed by Governor Locke; Retired

Judge Van Deren grew up in Eatonville, Washington, where she was honored in 2011 with the Eatonville Cruisers’ Award of Distinction in recognition of her achievements. At the University of Washington, she earned a B.A. degree in Sociology in 1969, and a Master's of Librarianship degree in 1972. From 1972 to 1979, she worked as a professional librarian at Western State Hospital, in the state prisons, and in Pierce County as the bookmobile and homebound librarian, as well as a branch librarian for five libraries over a period of seven years. She became a Certified Medical Librarian while working at Rainier School.

Judge Van Deren returned to the University of Washington to complete her Juris Doctor degree in 1982. She practiced law in both Seattle and Tacoma. Her husband, Gary Jacobson, practiced law in Puyallup, Washington. Together, they proposed the founding of the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association (TPCBA) FRIEND Committee.

Judge Van Deren was appointed to the Pierce County Superior Court in 1996. At the Superior Court, she chaired the Guardian ad litem committee, working to improve services to those involved in family law and guardianship cases. She also served on numerous court committees, including the Court’s Executive Committee and the Criminal Justice Task Force of the County. Judge Van Deren also chaired the Guardianship and Probate Committee for both the Superior Court Judges Association (SCJA) and for Pierce County Superior Court and served as Presiding Judge at Juvenile Court in 2003.

In April 2004, Judge Van Deren was appointed to Division Two of the Court of Appeals by Governor Gary Locke. While at the Court of Appeals in 1998 through 2000, Judge Van Deren headed the first Guardianship Oversight Board, created by the Washington State Supreme Court to monitor the care of alleged incapacitated and incapacitated persons. She subsequently chaired the newly created Certified Professional Guardianship Board in 2001, and from October 2006 to December 2008, Judge Van Deren served as Chief Judge of Division Two from June 2008 through May 2010. The King County Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers honored Judge Van Deren with their Vanguard Award in 2010. She wrote and spoke often on family and trial issues, both as an attorney and as a judge.

Judge Van Deren retired from Division Two in May 2013.