Judge Lisa O’Toole was elected to the position of King County District Court Judge in November of 2014.  She is currently assigned to the Bellevue Courthouse.  She hears both criminal and civil matters daily.  She is committed to ensuring that justice is administered fairly, efficiently, and equally to all, and that everyone is treated with respect and courtesy.

Judge O’Toole brings to the District Court bench over 30 years of experience practicing law and trying cases, both as a former prosecuting attorney and as a former civil attorney in private practice. She also has extensive experience as a Judge Pro Tem in King County District Court and numerous municipal courts, presiding over both criminal and civil cases.

Prior to her election to the bench, Judge O’Toole began her practice of law as an Associate Attorney with the firm of Bogle & Gates in Seattle where she had a civil litigation practice.  She also served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Criminal Division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office where she tried cases and handled appeals.

Judge O’Toole graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla with a B.A.  in Economics.  She then graduated from the Seattle University School of Law, (formerly the University of Puget Sound School of Law), with a J.D., cum laude.

Judge O’Toole is a life-long resident of Washington, having been born and raised here in Washington.  She lives with her husband and children in east King County.

Judge O’Toole is an active volunteer on many judicial committees.  She served on the King County District Court’s Rules Committee and is currently a member of the King County District Court Personnel Committee.  She is also the Chair of the King County District Court Training Committee for Pro Tem Judges.  Judge O’Toole is also a member of the District and Municipal Court Judges Association’s (“DMCJA”) Education Committee and the DMCJA Diversity Committee.  Judge O’Toole is also the King County District Court Judge who has been appointed the “portability judge” to King County Superior Court and is available to hear matters in Superior Court when needed.

In addition to volunteering on judicial committees, Judge O’Toole is also an active community volunteer.  She serves on the City of Bellevue Probation Advisory Board.  Judge O’Toole also serves as a volunteer for the Children’s Justice Center Kid’s Court program and for the “We the People” student Constitutional Law civics program.