Sattler took his oath of office on August 15, 2023, and was accompanied by Presiding Judge Faye R. Chess and City Clerk Scheereen Dedman. Seattle, Wash.– Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) is pleased to announce Josh Sattler has been selected as the next court administrator. As court administrator, Sattler leads the administrative and operational functions of the court. He was appointed by Presiding Judge Faye R. Chess on May 7, 2023, and his appointment was confirmed by Seattle City Council on August 15, 2023, in accordance with Seattle Municipal Code 3.33.060. Sattler has served as interim court administrator since August 2022 and has served the court for over nine years in several leadership roles.
As interim court administrator, Sattler successfully moved the SMC forward and established a strategic vision and priorities, while shoring up leadership capacity, governance principles, communication throughout the Court, and improving employee engagement. He has demonstrated a commitment to building a culture of trust and transparency internally and between the Court and its external partners.
Sattler holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from Washington State University. He has completed the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management (ICM) Court Manager, Court Executive and Fellows Certification, a rigorous program that measures an individual’s aptitude in court management, research, and executive leadership.
“I still remember the day I started here and being struck by the privilege of getting to work at such a special place. Our court has been a pioneer for change and innovation and respected at a national level. I’m incredibly honored to serve as court administrator and I’m excited to help advance SMC,” Sattler said.
Sattler’s confirmation comes at a time of transformation at SMC. In addition to the reorganization of the Court’s service areas, SMC is nearing the implementation of a modern technology solution for the way they do business, drafting a sustainable governance structure, and working to incorporate an equity and engagement lens into all court processes.
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The Seattle Municipal Court provides a forum to resolve alleged violations of the law in a respectful, independent, and impartial manner. Seattle Municipal Court processes more cases than any other municipal court in the State of Washington with seven elected judges and five appointed magistrates. Under the Seattle Municipal Code and certain Revised Code of Washington statutes, we adjudicate misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes, infractions, and civil violations. For more information visit: www.seattle.gov/courts.