Judge Miguel Duran was appointed to the Superior Court bench in 2022 by Governor Inslee after nearly 20 years of practice as a civil and criminal trial attorney. Judge Duran began his career as a public defender before moving into a private practice focused on complex civil litigation prior to his appointment.
Judge Duran was the former chapter president and shop steward of the Northwest Defenders Association chapter of SEIU Local 925. In his civil practice, Judge Duran co-founded his firm's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee which was designed to encourage diversity in the practice of law, bolster awareness of minority cultural issues, and increase focus on pro bono work for underserved communities. Currently, Judge Duran serves on the Budget and Recovery Court Committees of the Superior Court. He is also a convening judge (alongside Judge Karen Moore) for Snohomish County’s YMCA Middle and High School Mock Trial competitions. Judge Duran was also appointed as the Superior Court Judge’s Association representative to the Washington Pattern Jury Instructions Committee in January of 2023.
The son of a Spanish immigrant and a language teacher, Judge Duran earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and New York University respectively. He and his wife Sol, a registered nurse, and their two dogs Gretta and Mogwai reside in Mountlake Terrace.
Judge Duran understands the importance of treating all parties in his courtroom with the respect and the dignity that they deserve. To people of all cultural backgrounds and beliefs, Judge Duran extends a welcome and bienvenidos to our courthouse