Skagit County District Court Judge Position 3

Judge Howson has served as District Court Judge since 2021, following four years as Court Commissioner. She was the Court’s Presiding Judge for four years, managing a judge’s full courtroom workload as well as conducting the business operations of the four-court system. With a passion for justice, fairness, and equitable access to the courts, Judge Howson is a champion for ensuring that the courts apply these critical concepts daily. Judge Howson led the team that developed a nationally recognized network of Community Courts throughout Skagit County. Therapeutic courts are successful in addressing socio-economic factors leading some criminal defendants to repeatedly engage in non-violent criminal behavior due to addiction, untreated mental health issues, and unstable housing. Judge Howson was recognized by Skagit Women’s Alliance and Network (SWAN) as the “Woman of the Year” for Transformational Leadership in 2022; the Community Partner Award by Skagit Legal Aid (for the Licensing Clinic) in 2025, and by the Skagit Bar Association in 2007, with the Hugh Ridgway award for Professionalism and Integrity. Endorsements: Former County Commissioner Lisa Janicki; Retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu; Skagit County Judges Riquelme, Neidzwski, Shand, Crandall, and Gilbert; and attorneys: Loren Pirkle, Craig Cammock, Laura Minton Breckenridge