Claire Sussman
Nonpartisan · WA · Presiding Judge, Pierce County District Court
Claire Sussman is the presiding judge of Pierce County District Court and the unopposed 2026 candidate for Position 2. She has served on the court since 2010 following work in private practice, six years as a deputy prosecutor, and seven years as a pro tempore judge. Her administrative record includes court-rule oversight, criminal-filing procedures, municipal-court supervision, judicial education, budget presentation, and community mentoring and service.
Track record
Civil Rights
· 1 record
Sussman's community record includes food-network volunteering, student tutoring and mentoring, mock trial, and support for programs addressing hunger and youth development.
May 4, 2026For
Source: piercecountywa.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Impartiality
· 1 record
As presiding judge, Sussman signed 2026 emergency rules establishing county and municipal judicial committees and supervision of Tacoma Municipal Court operations.
March 30, 2026For
Source: piercecountywa.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Legal Competence
· 5 records
Sussman has served as faculty for Washington State Judicial College and participates in the District and Municipal Court Judges Association.
May 4, 2026For
Source: piercecountywa.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Sussman has served as a Pierce County District Court judge since 2010 and currently serves as presiding judge.
May 4, 2026For
Source: piercecountywa.gov · researched July 18, 2026
As presiding judge, Sussman signed 2026 emergency rules establishing county and municipal judicial committees and supervision of Tacoma Municipal Court operations.
March 30, 2026For
Source: piercecountywa.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Sussman issued a 2026 general order treating related criminal traffic and nontraffic charges filed separately as joined for procedural purposes.
March 16, 2026For
Source: piercecountywa.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Before joining the bench, Sussman worked five years in private practice, six years as a deputy prosecutor, and seven years as a pro tempore judge.
December 31, 2010For
Source: piercecountywa.gov · researched July 18, 2026
Elections
- Pierce County District Court Position No. 2 · November 3, 2026 · Pierce County, Washington · incumbent
Profile last researched July 18, 2026.