Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

State Judges’ Association Marks a Milestone: Judges of Color elected as President and President-Elect

King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato has been elected president of the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association (DMCJA), becoming the first judge of color to head the organization.

Chelan County District Court Judge Alicia Nakata was also chosen as president-elect of the DMCJA. Nakata joined the bench in 1995, and is a graduate of the University of Washington and the University of Texas School of Law.

The DMCJA president and board of governors represent the more than 200 judges of Washington’s courts of limited jurisdiction. Created by state statute, the association provides its members with continuing judicial education, recommends changes to civil and criminal court rules, and promotes improvement in the administration of justice.

“One of the greatest rewards of participating in the DMCJA is the opportunity of working with dedicated, interesting individuals from diverse backgrounds from across the state,” Judge Kato said.           

Judge Kato said she will focus her efforts on an ambitious court funding reform effort now underway in Washington, and on maintaining the DMCJA as an effective and efficient organization for court improvement.  “I hope to continue the advances we’ve made, and to address the needs of the public and the judiciary.”

Kato has served as a King County District Court judge since 1994. She graduated in 1977 with an MBA from San Jose State University and in 1980 from the University of Santa Clara Law School. She worked as a special assistant to the United States Attorney, Western Washington District, as a senior trial attorney with the Department of the Treasury, and as an attorney in two private law firms before joining the bench in 1994.

Judge Kato serves on the American Bar Association’s Justice Kennedy Commission on Sentencing, and as immediate past chair of the ABA’s Conference of Specialized Court Judges. She also serves as President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Judicial Council, and as West Division Presiding Judge of the King County District Court. She is active on numerous committees for the judicial and legal communities, and in such community organizations and events as Nikkei Concerns, the Northwest Minority Law Student Job Fair, Pacific Science Center Summer Youth Camp, the Japanese American Citizens League, and more.

CONTACT: King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato, (206) 205-9200; Chelan County District Court Judge Alicia Nakata, (509) 667-6600.