What's Happening at SMC—November 2025

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 11/20/2025 07:45 AM PST

King County Bench Bar Conference

Presiding Judge Anita Crawford Willis was a panelist at the King County Bench Bar Conference on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025.

She provided a general "state of the court," discussed the importance of the rule of law, and talked about how the court will be exploring the use of AI more in 2026.

SMC Faces & Places

SMA winners Aminah Long and Victoria Moreland

Director of Equity & Engagement Victoria Moreland (left) and HR Manager Aminah Long were honored last month at the Seattle Management Association awards. Aminah was recognized as an emerging leader and Victoria was recognized for her race and social justice work.

Probation Services receiving a mayoral certificate of appreciation

The Probation Services team received a City of Seattle Certificate of Appreciation last month for their exemplary partnership and steadfast commitment in supporting survivors of gender-based violence. This award recognizes the role of SMC probation staff within a broader coordinated community effort to protect domestic violence survivors.

Judges celebrate Chief Sansalone at her retirement party

Chief Elisa Sansalone retired in early November after 20 years of service to the court with judges and coworkers at her side. Prior to being in law enforcement, she had a career in film! Listen to her talk about it in this 2017 KNKX radio story!

Chief Sansalone passes the torch to Sergeants Garcia and Torres

Sergeants Francisco Garcia and Tania Torres toast Chief Sansalone at her retirement party last month. The two sergeants will now co-lead the court marshals until a new chief is named.

Happenings at SMC

You've Been Served

Last month, SMC welcomed Washington state lawmakers to the courthouse for the annual “You’ve Been Served” event, an initiative designed to strengthen relationships between the judicial and legislative branches of government.

Participants in SMC’s event included SMC Presiding Judge Crawford-Willis, Assistant Presiding Judge Damon Shadid, Judge Catherine McDowall, Court Administrator Josh Sattler, King County District Court Chief Presiding Judge Rebecca Robertson and Chief Administrative Officer Othniel Palomino, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, Rep. Brianna Thomas, and Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, as well as Anna Johnson and Samir Junejo from the City of Seattle’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations. Read more.

Seattle Youth Traffic Court

Nineteen students from Garfield High School were officially sworn in by Judge Catherine McDowall to begin their (school-) year-long duties at SYTC. Before swearing the students in, she thanked them for their civic engagement and told the teens they are providing an important service to the community.

SMC has participated in SYTC with students from Garfield High School and Seattle University School of Law since 2012. It is co-led by Margaret Fisher, a law professor at Seattle University (SU) School of Law, Al Snyder, a teacher at GHS who serves as SYTC’s youth advisor, Judge McDowall, as well as Magistrates Seth Niesen and Noah Weil. Simi Gill, who works in court operations, is also highly involved, as are law students at SU, who serve as mentors. Read more.