Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Judge Michael Lambo New Co-Chair of State Board for Judicial Administration

Kirkland Municipal Court Judge Michael J. Lambo has been appointed Co-chair of the state Board for Judicial Administration (BJA), a representative body that provides leadership to the state courts and develops policies to enhance the administration of justice in Washington.

Judge Lambo, who was appointed by a vote of BJA members on June 22, 2009, will serve as co-chair — also called “member chair” — from 2009-2011 along with the Board’s other co-chair, Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander.

The Board for Judicial Administration was established by the state Supreme Court and includes judges from all court levels in Washington — the state Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, superior courts, district and municipal courts. The BJA meets monthly to address policy, administrative and legislative issues affecting Washington courts, and to provide an effective voice for judges in improving the state’s court system.

The chief justice of the state Supreme Court is a permanent co-chair of the BJA, along with a judge appointed as co-chair or “member chair” from another court level who serves for two years.

Judge Lambo practiced law for 21 years before joining the bench in 2006. He served in the King County Prosecutor’s Office before going into private practice. He is currently a BJA board member, a member of the BJA Best Practices Committee, is co-chair of the District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association (DMCJA) Legislative Committee and is a judicial peer counselor among other activities.

“I consider this a profound privilege,” Judge Lambo said. “I look forward to working with members of the BJA, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Washington State Bar Association and other organizations to improve Washington’s judicial system and access to justice.”