Governor Ferguson appoints Kent Liu to King County Superior Court
Liu joins the King County bench after nearly 17 years at the state Attorney General’s Office
OLYMPIA – Today Governor Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Kent Liu to the King County Superior Court. Liu’s appointment, effective June 4, fills the position being vacated by Judge Susan H. Amini, who resigned from the bench effective May 31.
Liu is a career prosecutor with three decades of experience, including nearly 17 years at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Liu’s broad experience working for the Attorney General has included prosecuting criminal cases, working to civilly commit Sexually Violent Predators, and defending state agencies. Most recently, Liu served as a managing assistant attorney general as the inaugural chief of the office’s Organized Retail Crime Unit.
“Kent Liu has prosecuted many challenging cases in courtrooms across Washington,” Governor Ferguson said. “His expertise and professionalism will make him an excellent King County Superior Court judge.”
“I am extremely honored by Governor Ferguson’s appointment and grateful for the trust placed in me to serve as a judge for King County Superior Court,” Liu said. “I have devoted my career to public service, and I look forward to continuing that service as a Superior Court judge.”
Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Liu served four years as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Liu was appointed to the position under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, focusing on prosecuting firearm and violent crimes in federal court. He led investigations and prosecutions of bank robbery and gang-related offenses, including a murder case on Fort Lewis involving six co-defendants. Prior to that, Liu worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Pierce County for 12 years, prosecuting a range of cases including homicide, sexual assault, firearm and drug distribution cases.
Outside the courtroom, Liu has participated in community programs aimed at combating firearm-related crimes and providing training to law enforcement agencies. Liu has also volunteered with the King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinic in Seattle’s International District to provide legal services to low-income families, many of whom speak English as a second language.
Liu has also served as a pro tem judge for Seattle Municipal Court since 2016.
Liu earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and his law degree from Seattle University School of Law.
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