Superior Court Department 7

[email protected] **** (253) 798-7568

  • Judge

    : Honorable Diana L. Kiesel  she, her, hers
  • Elected / Appointed

    : January 2021

Education



    • J.D., 1984, University of Puget Sound School of Law, Tacoma, Washington;
    • B.A., 1981, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

Career Highlights


  • Superior Court Judge 2021 to present, presiding over Civil and Criminal litigation;
  • Presiding Family Court Judge January 2023 to present
  • Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner 2008 to 2020, presiding over Juvenile proceedings (including Juvenile Offender, Dependency, At-Risk-Youth, Children in Need of Services, and Emancipation), Criminal felony RCW 10.77 trials at Western State Hospital, Civil Commitment trials, Family Law, Domestic Violence,  Guardianship, Probate, Ex Parte proceedings, and Landlord Tenant litigation; 
  • Faculty Washington State Judicial College 2017 to 2019;
  • Appointed by Supreme Court Justice Helen Whitener to the Disability Justice Task Force Steering Committee 2021 to present;
  • Appointed by the Supreme Court to the Washington State Certified Professional Guardianship and Conservatorship (CPGC) Board in 2014 to present.  Chair of the CPGC Board 2021 to present;
  • Attorney in private practice 1984 to 2008. Practice focused on Family Law litigation, Domestic Violence litigation, and Elder Law litigation. 

Professional Affiliations, Committees


  • Superior Court Judges’ Association (SCJA).  Chair of the SCJA Guardianship and Probate Committee; Chair of the SCJA Technology Committee; member of the SCJA Legislative Committee and member of the SCJA Juvenile and Family Law Committee;
  • Washington State Bar Association;
  • American Inns of Court, Hon. Robert J. Bryan Chapter XXV, active member;
  • American Bar Association, Judicial Division;
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts;
  • National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges;
  • Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association;
  • Superior Court Judges Association;
  • Friends of the Law Library Board Member;
  • Washington Women Lawyers.

Awards


  • 2017 Service to the Legal Profession Community Service Award;
  • 2016 Jurist of the Year Award, Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section;
  • 2015 Jurist of the Year Award, Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association;
  • 2015 Award for improving the collaboration between Joint Base Lewis McChord and the Pierce County Superior Court from the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, I CORPS;
  • 2013 Humanitarian Award, Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association;
  • 2008 Outstanding Service Award, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association;
  • 2006 Outstanding Service Award, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association;
  • 2005 Family Law Attorney of the Year, Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association.



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judge Kiesel 2021