Judge Michael Trickey

DIVISION I, POSITION 6

June 1, 2014–August 31, 2018

Appointed by Governor Inslee; Retired

I was born in Wichita, Kansas and came to the Seattle area as a young boy. I grew up in Bellevue. After finishing high school, I went to college in California. I attended Claremont McKenna College and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. I returned to Seattle to go to the University of Washington School of Law.

After completing law school, I worked as a public defender. I handled all kinds of criminal and juvenile cases, including appeals. I then joined a small firm in north Seattle, where I practiced for fourteen years. One of my partners was Marlin Appelwick, whom I had known at the University of Washington. I handled a variety of matters in private practice, including family law and civil cases. I eventually concentrated on criminal defense, both in state and in federal court. I represented clients in many jury trials, everything from misdemeanors to aggravated murder. I also argued a number of appeals.

I started sitting as a judge pro tempore in some courts of limited jurisdiction in King County, primarily in Shoreline District Court. I discovered I liked being a judge. I sought a superior court position. Governor Mike Lowry appointed me to the King County Superior Court in 1996.

I was a superior court judge for eighteen years. I got involved in court administration, becoming the Presiding Judge of King County Superior Court and the President of the statewide Superior Court Judges Association. I also worked on various efforts to improve court technology.

In 2014, Governor Jay Inslee appointed me to Division I of the Court of Appeals. I was a judge there until I retired from the bench in 2018. I got to serve with the talented judges and court commissioners of the Court of Appeals, including my friend Marlin Appelwick. I also benefited from the dedication of the law clerks and staff at the Court of Appeals.

I was privileged to be a trial and appellate court judge, where the goal everyday was to attempt to do justice under the law.