Judge Kathryn (Katie) Loring was appointed to the San Juan County Superior Court by Governor Inslee on November 3, 2017. Judge Loring was unopposed for election in 2018, 2020, and 2024. Judge Loring grew up in St. Louis, MO and Buffalo, NY, and attended the University of Rochester for undergrad. She graduated from Boston College Law School in 2004. After graduating from law school, Judge Loring relocated to Seattle. She served as judicial law clerk to Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst. She then worked as an associate at Perkins Coie. In 2008, Judge Loring moved to the San Juan Islands. She worked as an associate for a small law firm with offices on Whidbey and San Juan Islands for eight years, practicing in civil litigation, family law, business formation, estate planning, and probate. She then formed a new law firm with three other attorneys, where she practiced until she was appointed to the bench. She also served as a pro tem Commissioner for Superior Court. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Loring was very involved in the San Juan County community, sitting on boards for numerous non-profits and the local library district, mentoring a middle school student, and volunteering broadly. Since becoming judge, Judge Loring has had to step back from some of her community activities, but has been able to take on new roles of service, including presenting on constitutional law at the local high schools, organizing adoption celebrations, speaking to local service organizations, and serving on state-wide committees. Jude Loring currently chairs the Superior Court Judges’ Association’s Work-Life Balance Committee, and serves on its Equality and Fairness Committee, Rural Courts Committee, and Education Committee. She also served for seven years on the Superior Court Judges’ Association’s Juvenile and Family Law Committee. Judge Loring also chairs the Board of Judicial Administration’s Public Engagement and Education Committee and its Alternative to Incarceration Task Force. She previously served on the statewide Racial Justice Consortium. In her first year on the bench, Judge Loring convened a work group to analyze creating a Drug Court for San Juan County and launched Adult Drug Court in January 2019. After much work with justice system partners, in 2024 the San Juan County Superior Court launched Family Treatment Court. In her free time, Judge Loring enjoys bicycling, cooking, and getting outside on our amazing islands with her husband and their dog.