Judge Paul W. Thompson was appointed to the Superior Court bench in late 2018. He then retained the position in a contested retention race in 2019. Prior to taking the bench Judge Thompson was a trial court public defender for 14 years having practiced in Snohomish County since 2007 and from 2004-2007 in Chelan County. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University Law School, Eastern Washington University, and also attended Bellevue College. He is involved in numerous committees on the Superior Court bench.