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Hon. Anita Crawford-Willis Elected Seattle Municipal Court Presiding Judge Effective Jan. 1, 2025

Last Friday, Oct. 4, a majority of the Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) judges elected Honorable Anita Crawford-Williams to serve as Presiding Judge and Honorable Damon Shadid to serve as Assistant Presiding Judge for a two-year term, effective Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. Honorable Willie Gregory will remain the third member of the Executive Committee, after current Presiding Judge Faye R. Chess opted not to serve as immediate past-presiding judge once her term ends on Dec. 31, 2024.

The Presiding Judge leads the management and administration of the court, makes judicial assignments, and supervises the court’s five non-elected Magistrates and the Court Administrator. When the Presiding Judge is unavailable, the Assistant Presiding Judge fulfills the duties of Presiding Judge. 

In accordance with SMC Local Court Rule 10.2 and to ensure the seamless transition of duties and the continuity of court operations, a majority of SMC’s elected judges held the Presiding Judge election during an executive session of their regularly scheduled Judges’ Meeting on Oct. 4, 2024. Judges’ meetings are scheduled monthly with a set agenda distributed prior to the meeting noting action items (items requiring a vote) and whether an executive session will be held. All seven sitting judges attended and voted.

Honorable Crawford-Willis was appointed to the Seattle Municipal Court bench in 2017 and was a member of the court’s inaugural Race and Social Justice Initiative. Her current court assignment is specialty courts (mental health and consolidated calendar). Prior to SMC, she spent nearly 30 years in public service as a Public Defender, Judge Pro Tem, and assistant deputy chief at the Office of Administrative Hearings. In the role at OAH, she ran the Seattle office, which included supervising judges and staff. She is a native of Seattle and grew up in the Central District.  Both of her parents were proud members of the Machinists Union (IAM 751) and worked on the Boeing production line for 35 years.

“I believe as public servants judges should be active and engaged in the community,” Honorable Crawford-Willis said. “I am passionate about uplifting young people positively influencing our BIPOC community.”

As a graduate of Seattle University and its Law School, Honorable Crawford-Willis has been a dedicated alumni leader—mentoring and empowering students to pursue their goals. She has been honored with numerous awards for her work (Woman of the Year, University Service) and is currently a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. She recently was the keynote speaker at SU a pipeline event to encourage young people of color to consider the law as a profession.

Honorable Crawford-Willis is the chair-elect for the District and Municipal Court Association. She is a past commissioner on the Washington State Supreme Court’s Gender and Justice Commission. She is also a former chair of the King County Boys and Girls Club Corporate Board and a board member of Legal Voices. In 2022, she was the recipient  of the Outstanding Judge Award at the Washington State Bar Association’s 2022 APEX Awards. She is also a past recipient of social justice award from the Loren Miller Bar Association.

Honorable Damon Shadid joined the Seattle Municipal Court bench in January 2014, the first Arab American judge elected to the bench in the state of Washington. His time on the bench has focused on the Court’s specialty programs, including the Mental Health Court and the Consolidated Calendar. He is currently serving on a general trial rotation. Before taking the bench, he was committed to serving the public through engagement with community groups including the Race and Social Justice Community Roundtable, the Racial Justice Report Card, and the Task Force on Race and the Criminal Justice System. Since taking the bench, he has continued to serve the legal community including serving on the District and Municipal Judges’ Association Board of Directors, The Washington State Legal Financial Obligations Stakeholder Consortium, and engaging with school age children in educating about the criminal justice system.

“I look forward to serving in the capacity of Presiding Judge starting in January. I plan to foster strong connections and build on the progress made by the current administration. We have a robust governance policy in place, and I will prioritize inclusive decision-making,” Honorable Crawford-Willis said. “Seattle Municipal Court has made strides in strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, including the city council and the mayor’s office. I intend to continue enhancing these connections. The budget is crucial in shaping our capabilities and the services we provide, so I will collaborate closely with our court administrator, finance team, and leadership to stay ahead of any changes that may impact our work,” she added.

“After almost 10 years on the court, I am excited to take on this leadership role,” said Honorable Shadid. “I look forward to working with the Court and our justice partners to ensure Seattle is an exciting, vibrant and safe city for everyone.”