Spokane County Superior Court is staffed by 13 elected Spokane County Superior Court judges, each presiding over a numbered department, with Judge Tony D. Hazel currently serving as Presiding Judge. Eight court commissioners handle additional dockets alongside the elected bench. Together they make up one of the larger trial courts in Washington State, hearing felony prosecutions, major civil disputes, divorces, probate, juvenile cases, and appeals from the county’s lower courts.
Who Sits on the Bench Right Now
State law authorizes exactly 13 superior court judges for Spokane County.1Washington State Legislature. RCW 2.08.061 Each runs one of the court’s 13 departments, supported by a full-time judicial assistant and court reporter.2Spokane County, WA. Judges and Commissioners The judges currently serving are:
- Annette S. Plese — Department 1
- Charnelle M. Bjelkengren — Department 2
- Julie M. McKay — Department 4
- Breean L. Beggs — Department 5
- Tony D. Hazel — Department 6 (Presiding Judge)
- Jacquelyn High-Edward — Department 7
- Marla L. Polin — Department 8
- Jeremy T. Schmidt — Department 9
- Michelle “Shelley” D. Szambelan — Department 10
- Andrew B. Van Winkle — Department 11
- Rachelle E. Anderson — Department 12
- Dean Tze-Ming Chuang — Department 13
- Candie M. Dibble — Judge
The roster changes when judges retire, resign, or are replaced by appointment. The Washington State Court Directory keeps an updated listing.3Washington State Courts. Spokane County Court Directory
Who Leads the Court
The judges elect one of their own as Presiding Judge for a term of at least two years. Judge Tony Hazel currently holds that position.4Spokane County, WA. Presiding Judge The Presiding Judge assigns cases to departments, supervises court personnel, manages the budget, directs the court administrator, and speaks for the court with other branches of government.
Under Washington General Rule 29, the bench also elects an Assistant Presiding Judge who steps in when the Presiding Judge is absent and takes on whatever additional responsibilities the court assigns.5Washington State Courts. General Rule 29 That two-person structure keeps the 13 departments coordinated on everything from vacation schedules to local court rules.
Court Commissioners Who Share the Workload
If you have a routine civil, juvenile, mental health, adoption, or probate matter, your hearing may well be in front of a commissioner rather than an elected judge. Eight full-time commissioners sit in Spokane County. Seven handle civil, juvenile, civil mental health, and adoption dockets; one criminal commissioner presides over adult felony proceedings.6Spokane County, WA. Spokane County Commissioners Under state law, commissioners are appointed by the superior court judges and serve at the judges’ pleasure.7Washington State Legislature. Chapter 2.24 RCW Their statutory authority includes hearing probate matters, issuing temporary restraining orders, deciding uncontested civil cases, and presiding over adoption and commitment proceedings.
The commissioners currently serving are Tami Chavez, Eugene M. Cruz, Julia M. Pelc, Michelle L. Ressa, Tony Rugel, Jerry P. Scharosch, Kevin Stewart, and Nichole N. Swennumson.3Washington State Courts. Spokane County Court Directory By taking on high-volume routine dockets, they free the elected judges to focus on contested trials and complex evidentiary hearings.
How Judges Reach the Bench and How Long They Stay
Superior court judges in Spokane County are elected to four-year terms during general elections. The Washington Constitution sets this term length and requires each county to have at least one elected superior court judge. A candidate must be admitted to practice law in Washington’s courts of record (under Article IV, Section 17) and must be a registered voter.8Justia Law. Washington Constitution Article IV
When a judge leaves office mid-term, the Governor of Washington appoints a replacement. That appointee holds the seat until the next general election, at which point voters decide whether to keep the appointee or elect someone new. The winner then serves the remainder of the unexpired term.8Justia Law. Washington Constitution Article IV
The state constitution also sets a mandatory retirement age. A superior court judge must retire at the end of the calendar year in which they turn 75. The legislature can lower that cutoff but cannot set it below 70. Judges who become physically or mentally unable to perform their duties can be required to retire regardless of age.8Justia Law. Washington Constitution Article IV
What These Judges Decide
Spokane County Superior Court is one of 39 superior courts statewide and is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the county.9Spokane County, WA. About Superior Court Under RCW 2.08.010, its original jurisdiction covers:10Washington State Legislature. RCW 2.08.010
- All felony prosecutions, plus misdemeanors not assigned to lower courts
- Civil disputes of $3,000 or more; district courts share jurisdiction up to $100,000, and anything above goes exclusively to superior court
- Real property disputes, including title, ownership, and eviction proceedings
- Lawsuits contesting the legality of a tax, toll, or government-imposed fine
- Divorce, legal separation, child custody, and parenting plan cases
- Probate of estates and establishment of guardianships
- Appeals from Spokane’s district and municipal courts, under the Rules for Appeal of Decisions of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction11Washington State Courts. RALJ
The juvenile division operates under the superior court umbrella and has exclusive jurisdiction over most proceedings involving children under 18, including juvenile offenses, dependency, truancy, and termination of parental rights.12Washington State Legislature. RCW 13.04.030 An important exception: 16- and 17-year-olds charged with serious violent offenses or certain repeat felonies can be handled in adult court instead.
Therapeutic Court Options
Washington law lets superior courts run therapeutic court programs as voluntary, treatment-focused alternatives to standard prosecution. Entry requires agreement from both the defendant and the prosecutor, and defendants charged with sex offenses, serious violent crimes, or violent offenses as defined in state sentencing law are not eligible.13Washington State Legislature. Chapter 2.30 RCW
Spokane County runs several of these programs under its Behavioral Health Adult Felony Treatment Courts umbrella:14Spokane County, WA. Behavioral Health Adult Felony Therapeutic Courts
- A Therapeutic Drug Court that has operated for more than 20 years, serving defendants whose criminal behavior stems from substance use disorders
- A Felony Mental Health Court, launched in December 2013, serving close to 50 participants with serious mental health conditions
- A Co-Occurring Disorders Docket for defendants with both mental health and substance use conditions
Programs typically run 12 to 24 months depending on track and progress. Participants attend regular court appearances, meet with case managers, complete treatment, and submit to compliance monitoring. Successful completion can result in reduced charges or dismissal.
Reaching a Department or Looking Up a Case
Spokane County Superior Court is at 1100 W. Mallon Avenue in Spokane, with offices open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.15Spokane County, WA. Court Locations and Hours Each judge’s judicial assistant is the primary contact for scheduling questions and procedural inquiries about that department’s cases.
The Washington Courts website offers online case lookup tools, though some docket data and document links may not display in real time. For complete and current records, the court recommends contacting the clerk’s office directly or using systems like the Odyssey Portal.16Washington Courts. Washington Courts Copies of filed documents are available in person from the County Clerk’s Office during business hours.17Spokane County, WA. Obtain Copies of Documents
Filing a Complaint About a Judge
Every Spokane County Superior Court judge is bound by the Washington Code of Judicial Conduct, which governs behavior both on and off the bench. Anyone can file a complaint with the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The process starts with a preliminary investigation, and the commission can dismiss complaints that lack merit.18Commission on Judicial Conduct. Complaint Process
If the commission finds a violation, sanctions escalate: an admonishment for minor issues, a reprimand requiring the judge to appear in person, or a formal censure. For the most serious misconduct, the commission can recommend to the Washington Supreme Court that a judge be suspended or removed. A sanctioned judge can appeal to the Supreme Court within 30 days.18Commission on Judicial Conduct. Complaint Process