Governor Gregoire Appoints Commissioner Kimberley Prochnau to King County Superior Court

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2007

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of Commissioner Kimberley Prochnau of Seattle to the King County Superior Court.

Governor Gregoire lauded Commissioner Prochnau�s years of experience as a judge pro tem and court commissioner, handling a wide spectrum of cases. Commissioner Prochnau will fill the position recently vacated by Judge Richard Jones, effective November 1.

�Commissioner Kimberley Prochnau has heard hundreds of trials, which will make her a well-rounded judge who will serve the people of King County well,� said Governor Gregoire.

�This is a smart appointment by Governor Gregoire,� said retired Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland. �Commissioner Prochnau has the brains, experience and dedication to be a great judge for the citizens of King County. I know she will hit the ground running.�

Commissioner Prochnau, 53, has been a court commissioner and substitute judge for the King County Superior Court since 1994, where she has sat on cases involving guardianships, personal injury actions, probate, anti-harassment, juvenile offenders, dependency, truancy, family law and civil commitment. She taught for six years at the Washington State Judicial College � a mandatory education program for all new judges and state Supreme Court justices.

�I have dedicated my career to seeking justice through the legal system. I look forward to continuing that effort on the King County bench,� said Prochnau. �It is a tremendous honor to be selected by Governor Gregoire to fill this position.�

Commissioner Prochnau received the King County Bar Association�s (KCBA) Elder Law 2007 Section Award and was recognized by the Access to Justice Board in 2002 as a �Champion of Justice.� She received the KCBA President�s Award in 1995 and was the Professional of the Year in 1991 for the family law section of the Washington State Bar Association.

Commissioner Prochnau received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her Juris Doctorate degree from Seattle University�s School of Law. Prochnau, who has a daughter and son, resides in Seattle with her husband of 27 years.

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