Home


 

The Honorable Stephen J. Dwyer, Chief Judge
Washington State Court of Appeals, Division One
600 University St.
Seattle, WA 98101-4170


JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Judge, Washington State Court of Appeals, Division One
2005 – Present           

Judge, Snohomish County Superior Court
2004 – 2005

Judge, Snohomish County District Court, South Division
1995 – 2004

Judicial Honors:

bullet2003: Named the state’s “Outstanding Judge” by the Washington State Bar Association
bullet2001: Named “State Judge of the Year” by the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association

Judicial Leadership Includes:

Washington State Court of Appeals:

bullet
Chief Judge, Division One (2010 – 2012)
bulletActing Chief Judge, Division One (2008 – 2010)
bulletMember, Executive Committee (2008 – 2012)
bulletMember, Budget Committee (2008 – 2012)
bulletChair, Rules Committee (2007 – 2009)
bulletMember, Rules Committee (2005 – 2007)

Washington State Legislature:

bullet
Designee of the Chief Justice, Joint Legislative Task Force on Bail Reform (2010)
bulletMember, Joint Legislative Task Force on Limited Jurisdiction Courts (2007)

Washington State Bar Association:

bullet
Appellate Court Ex Officio member, WSBA Rules Committee (2007 – 2009)

Board for Judicial Administration:

bullet
Member (2003 – 04)
bulletEx officio member (2002 – 03)
bulletMember of Executive Committee (2002 – 04)
bulletMember of Court Funding Task Force (2002 – 04)
bulletCo-chair, Court Funding Task Force Implementation Workgroup (2002 – 04)
bulletChair, Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Organizational Options Subcommittee (2005 – 06)
bulletMember, Court Funding Task Force Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Workgroup (2002 – 04)
bulletMember, Project 2001 Case Management Workgroup (2000)

Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association:

bulletPresident (2003 – 04)
bulletPresident-elect (2002 – 03)
bulletMember, Board of Governors (1998 – 2001)
bulletChair of Legislative Committee and ex officio member of Board of Governors (1996 – 98)
bulletMember of Technology Committee (1999 – 2001)
bulletMember of Legislative Committee (1995 – 96)
bulletMember of Education Committee (1995 – 96)
bulletDMCJA Liaison to Judicial Information System Advisory Committee, Limited Jurisdiction sub-committee (1999 – 2001)
bulletDMCJA Liaison to Superior Court Judges’ Association (2002 – 03)

Superior Court Judges’ Association:

bullet
Member, Trial Court Funding Committee (2004 – 05)
bulletMember, Legislative Committee (2005 – 06)

Snohomish County District Court (consolidated effective January 1, 1999):

bullet
Presiding Judge (2000)
bulletChair, Budget Committee (1999, 2001 – 2004)

South District Court (1995 – 1998):

bullet
Presiding Judge (1996)
bulletChair, Budget Committee (1995 – 1998)

Other Judicial Leadership:

bullet
Delegate, First National Judicial Leadership Conference, held at the National Judicial College  (1999) (appointed to attend by Chief Justice Durham)
bulletDelegate, Second National Judicial Leadership Conference, held at the National Judicial College  (2001) (appointed to attend by the President of the NJC)

Other Judicial Experience:

bullet
Judge pro tem, King County District Court (1990 – 1994)
bulletArbitrator in Superior Court mandatory arbitration proceedings (1990 – 1994)
bulletArbitrator in numerous uninsured and underinsured motorist claim disputes (1988 – 1994)

 

OTHER LEGAL EXPERIENCE

August 1984 – January 1995:                      Private practice specializing in civil litigation.  AV rated.

September 1982 – August 1984:                  Law Clerk to the Honorable Ward Williams, Washington State Court of Appeals, Division One.

 

LEGAL PUBLICATIONS
(Includes co-authorships)

“Effective Oral Argument: Six Pitches, Five Do’s, and Five Don’ts From One Judge and Two Lawyers” 33 Seattle University Law Review 347 (2010)

“How to Write, Edit, and Review Persuasive Briefs: Seven Guidelines From One Judge and Two Lawyers,” 31 Seattle University Law Review 417 (2008)

“How to Write Persuasive Briefs,” Washington State Bar News (Washington State Bar Association, November 2008 (excerpt)

“Effective Oral Argument,” Bar Bulletin, (King County Bar Association) May, June, July 2010 (excerpts)

“Evidence,” Washington Lawyers’ Practice Manual, (Seattle-King County Bar Association) (1986)

“Evidence,” Washington Lawyers’ Practice Manual, (Seattle-King County Bar Association) (Supp. 1987)

“One-Car Accidents,” Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook, (Washington State Bar Association) (1988)

“Standing Vehicles,” Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook, (Washington State Bar Association) (1988)

“Rule 28:  Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Given,” Washington Civil Procedure Deskbook, (Washington State Bar Association) (1992)

“Rule 29: Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedure,” Washington Civil Procedure Deskbook, (Washington State Bar Association) (1992)

 

LEGAL PRESENTATIONS

Judicial Education

bullet
Instructor, “Ethical Judicial Election Campaigns,” DMCJA Spring Conference (2009)
bulletInstructor, “Intelligent Budget Discussions With Executive and Legislative Branch Elected Officials,” State Presiding Judges’ Conference (2005)
bulletInstructor, “Civil Procedure,” DMCJA Spring Conference (1999)
bulletInstructor, “New Legislation,” DMCJA Spring Conference (1998)
bulletInstructor, “New Legislation,” DMCJA Spring Conference (1997)
bulletInstructor, “Torts and Personal Injury,” DMCJA Spring Conference (1997)
bulletInstructor, “Torts and Personal Injury,” DMCJA Spring Conference (1996)

Washington State Bar Association Approved Continuing Legal Education

bullet
Instructor, “Brief Writing,” KCBA Appellate Practice Institute (2007)
bulletInstructor, “Personal Injury Cases in District Court,” District Court Practice CLE, (Snohomish County Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers) (2002)
bulletInstructor, “Your First Case in District Court,” Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association ‘Brown Bag’ CLE Series, (WSTLA) (2002)
bulletInstructor, “How to be Successful in District Court,” Spring Training for Litigators, (WSTLA) (1999)
bulletInstructor, “Examining the Expert Witness,” Personal Injury Litigation CLE, (East King County Bar Assoc.) (1987)
bulletSpeaker, “Civil Cases in District Court,” Snohomish County Bar Assoc. (1995) (non-credit presentation)
bulletSpeaker, “Personal Injury Litigation,” Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association, Snohomish County Chapter (2004) (non-credit presentation)

Courses taught through the Edmonds Community College Creative Retirement Institute

bulletIn December 2000, I gave a one-hour keynote address at the Creative Retirement Institute’s Annual Banquet.  The subject was “The Supreme Court in the New Administration.”

League of Women Voters of Snohomish County.

bulletPanelist, “Should Judges Be Elected?” (2007)
bulletIn May 2005, I presented a two-hour survey of “Privacy and Civil Liberties” to League members.  The talk was also taped for broadcast on KSER radio.

Leadership Snohomish County.

bulletIn 1997 and 1998, I gave two-hour presentations on “The Courts and the Judiciary” to program participants (young corporate executives from Snohomish County businesses).

 

Bar Associations

bulletMember, Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association (1986 – 95)
bulletMember, Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association Legislative Committee (1990 – 93)
bulletMember, American Bar Association (1982 – 95)
bulletMember, East King County Bar Association (1984 – 93)
bulletMember, Snohomish County Bar Association (1986 – 95)
bulletMember, Seattle-King County Bar Association (1984 – 93)
bulletMember, Snohomish County Chapter of Washington Women Lawyers (2002 – present)

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Edmonds City Council(1984 – 1995)

bulletElected to three four-year terms.
bulletCouncil President (1988)
bulletChair, Public Safety Committee (1985 – 86; 1989 – 95)
bulletChair, Community Services and Planning Committee (1987)
bulletMember, Public Safety Committee (1984)
bulletRepresentative, Puget Sound Council of Governments Sub-regional Council (1986 – 88)

Member, Board of Directors, Southwest Snohomish County Communications Agency (SNOCOM) (emergency “911” service to South Snohomish County) (1984 – 1995)

bulletChair, Board of Directors (1994 – 95)
bulletMember, Board of Directors (1984 – 95)
bulletMember, Budget Committee (1984 – 94)
bulletMember, Personnel Committee (1984 – 94)

Snohomish County Enhanced – 911 Committee (Multi-agency board of directors charged with implementing and maintaining enhanced – 911 service throughout Snohomish County).

bulletChair, Board of Directors (1994 – 95)

Member, Board of Directors, Medic – 7 (Multi-agency advanced life support paramedic program) (1984 – 95)

bulletChair, Board of Directors (1994 – 95)
bulletMember, Board of Directors (1984 – 95)
bulletMember, Budget Committee (1984 – 94)

Member, Snohomish County Senior Center Task Force(Organized pursuant to county council directive and charged with developing stable local funding for county senior centers in the midst of Reagan-era cut-backs)  (1984 – 85)

Member, Edmonds Lions Club (1989 – present)

bulletMember of local chapter of world’s largest service club.
bulletHave held numerous offices, including president.

Charter Member, Snohomish County Children’s Commission (1986 – 88)

Member, Board of Directors, The Neutral Zone(Nationally-recognized south Snohomish County at-risk youth support and anti-gang organization.  Provided recreation, meals and meeting places for at-risk youth).

bulletMember, Board of Directors (2000 – 01)

Member, City of Lynnwood Ethics Board (1998 – 99)

Edmonds Jay Cees (1984 – 88)

bulletMember and officer.

Shoreline Univac Football (1994 – 99)

bulletVolunteer field assistant, assistant coach, and head coach of various youth football teams.  This non-profit organization serves the north King County and south Snohomish County area.

Sno-King Youth Club (1984 – 98)

bulletVolunteer basketball official for all levels of play (first grade through high school summer league).
bulletAs a younger man, I was a high school varsity basketball official.  I donated my time to the Youth Club.
bulletVolunteer assistant coach and head coach of various youth basketball teams.
bulletVolunteer field assistant for soccer and baseball programs.
bulletFinancial sponsor of several youth baseball teams.

21st District Democrats.

bulletActive member of local Democratic Party organization (1984 – 95)
bulletGeneral election candidate, Washington State House of Representatives (1988).

 

EDUCATION

University of Washington School of Law
Juris Doctorate, 1982, with Honors

University of Puget Sound
Bachelor of Arts, History, 1979, cum laude, University Honors Scholar