Superior Court of the State of Washington For Pierce County
January 11, 2021
TWO NEW JUDGES SWORN IN
Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that Diana L. Kiesel and Thomas P. Quinlan have been officially sworn in as judges. Both Judges Kiesel and Quinlan were elected in November during the general election. Judge Kiesel takes over Department 7 from Judge Jerry Costello (Retired) and Judge Quinlan takes over Department 6 from Judge Jack Nevin (Retired). Judge Kiesel was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice G. Helen Whitener while Judge Quinlan was sworn in by Superior Court Presiding Judge Phil Sorensen. The date for their public ceremony will be announced later. Both judges are slated to attend the virtual judicial college held in January 2021.
About Judge Diana Lynn Kiesel:
Judge
Kiesel served as a Superior Court Commissioner from 2008 to 2020. She attended Seattle University School of Law (formerly University of Puget Sound school of Law). As a Superior Court Commissioner she presided over civil and criminal proceedings, including Juvenile Offender, Dependency, At-Risk-Youth, Children in Need of Services, and Emancipation proceedings, Criminal felony RCW 10.77 trials at Western State Hospital, Civil Commitment trials, Family Law, Domestic Violence, Guardianship, Probate, Ex Parte and Landlord Tenant proceedings. Judge Kiesel served as a faculty member at Washington State Judicial College 2017 to 2019. She was appointed to the Washington State Certified Professional Guardianship Board by the Washington State Supreme Court in 2014 and continues to serve on that Board. She is also the Chair of the Regulations Committee. Judge Kiesel has received several awards for her service to the legal community such as the 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 and the 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.
About Judge Thomas P. Quinlan: