Jonathan Rands
WA · Whatcom County District Court Judge, Position 2
Jonathan Rands has served as a Whatcom County District Court judge since 2023 and as presiding judge since 2025. Before his election, he spent about 20 years as a trial attorney in the region.
Where Jonathan Rands stands, based on their records
Supports
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (2 records), Civil Rights (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support
Founded Whatcom County District Court's first Youth Court focused on traffic cases.
October 26, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: whatcomcounty.us
Told a county justice committee that he gives people who miss court a second chance to appear and uses bail as a last resort in misdemeanor cases.
May 9, 2023Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: whatcomcounty.us
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
Partnered with community groups and the county Superior Court to verify reports of civil immigration arrests near the courthouse.
April 15, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: cascadiadaily.com
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Endorsed Jaime Hawk in the 2026 Washington Supreme Court Position 3 race.
October 26, 2026
Source: judgehawk.com
Conducted legal name-change ceremonies in District Court and used a bubble machine to make the proceedings less intimidating.
August 2, 2024
Source: cascadiadaily.com
As a DUI defense attorney, filed motions in two Whatcom County cases challenging the use of breath-test evidence; both motions were denied.
February 13, 2023
Source: cascadiadaily.com
Received endorsements from both Whatcom County Republicans and the 42nd District Democrats during his 2022 District Court campaign.
July 26, 2022
Source: bellinghamherald.com
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
Received a 'Qualified' rating from the Whatcom County Bar Association's judicial evaluation committee.
July 5, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: whatcombar.wildapricot.org
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Was ordered by Whatcom County Superior Court to transfer 123 DUI cases after it ruled he wrongly refused to honor timely disqualification notices; the ruling did not decide he was biased.
February 13, 2023
Source: cascadiadaily.com
Past race Jonathan Rands ran in:
- Whatcom County District Court Judge Position 2 · November 3, 2026 · Whatcom County, Washington · incumbent