"Karen has a wide range of judicial experience and has demonstrated her leadership from the bench. She has grappled with the administrative aspects of the judiciary - budgets, personnel, and integrating new technology systems - and will bring a tremendous amount of valuable knowledge and experience to the Superior Court."
-Governor Jay Inslee
About Judge Donohue
Judge Karen Donohue was appointed to the King County Superior Court by Governor Inslee, effective March 2018. Prior to her appointment, she served for seven years to Municipal Court (SMC) bench, where she served most recently as the Presiding Judge. Prior to being elected, Judge Donohue worked as a Judge Pro Tem in several district and municipal courts, in a general practice firm, as a law clerk/bailiff, prosecutor and defense attorney, consultant and solo practitioner and as a General Counsel at a global telecommunications consulting and network development firm. In 1998, Judge Donohue relocated to Dublin with her family for a year, where she also acted as General Counsel to an Irish mobile phone company. Judge Donohue earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law. In 2016, she was awarded the Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award from the National Association of Womens Judges and the Nevins Award from the Washington Judges' Foundation.
Judicial Experience
Judge, King County Superior Court -Appointed March 5, 2018
Judge, Seattle Municipal Court -2011-2018
Presiding Judge -2016-2018
Assitant Presiding Judge -2012-2015
Judge Pro-Tem, Seattle Municipal Court -1994-1997, 2001-2206, 2007-2010
Magistrate Pro-Tem, Seattle Municipal Court -1994-1997, 2001-2006, 2007-2010
Judge Pro-Tem, King County District Court -2009-2010
Judge Pro-Tem, Des Moines Municipal Court -2008-2010