Campaign Phone Number
3605620827
Biography (max 750 char)
Judge Jill Karmy serves as the Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge for Position 4. As one of five judges on the Superior Court, she hears a wide range of civil, domestic, and criminal matters while serving as the current Presiding Juvenile Judge. Karmy is a career public servant with more than two decades of combined legal experience as a superior court commissioner, civil attorney, prosecutor, and private practice attorney. She served on the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors from 2014-2017, including one year as the state bar Treasurer. Judge Karmy is endorsed by more than 25 judicial officers around the state, including by all current Cowlitz County Superior Court judges.
The most important qualities for a Superior Court judge are integrity, sound judicial temperament, and a deep commitment to fairness. Throughout my career and my time serving on the bench, now presiding over more than 12,000 matters, I have demonstrated these qualities daily by ensuring everyone who enters my courtroom is treated with dignity, respect, and absolute neutrality.
With over two decades of legal experience, I approach every case with a rigorous dedication to the rule of law, making clear, balanced decisions rooted strictly in legal merit. True judicial temperament means listening patiently, managing the courtroom efficiently, and maintaining unwavering impartiality.
Ensuring fairness and respect means treating everyone who enters my courtroom with dignity and neutrality. In my time on the bench, I strive to create an environment where every individual, whether an attorney, a self-represented litigant, or a witness, feels fully heard.
I demonstrate this daily by listening patiently, managing proceedings with a calm and balanced temperament, and ensuring rulings are based strictly on the facts and the rule of law. I will continue to uphold these standards, ensuring our court remains a place of accountability, integrity, and equal justice for all.
I am dedicated to modernizing court operations through expanded technology, including reliable remote hearing options that make the court more accessible. Serving on the statewide Justice Gap Workgroup allows me to collaborate on strategic methods to reduce legal barriers in rural communities like ours, helping to ensure self-represented individuals can successfully navigate complex legal processes.
Addressing case backlogs requires proactive leadership. Our court has prioritized improved case-flow management and strict scheduling orders on criminal dockets to resolve delays early. Having recently implemented new management procedures for our criminal dockets, I will continue to rigorously monitor effectiveness to keep our justice system moving forward.
Yes. A judiciary that reflects the diversity of the community it serves is vital to public trust and the integrity of our legal system. True judicial diversity goes beyond demographics; it encompasses a breadth of life experiences, professional backgrounds, and unique perspectives.
As the fifth female judge to serve on this superior court bench, I know that when community members see their own lived experiences reflected in leadership, it strengthens confidence that the court is fair, inclusive, and accessible to everyone. Impartiality is the bedrock of justice, but understanding the unique needs of our entire community ensures the law is applied with true fairness. Embracing these diverse perspectives enriches our decisions and ensures equal justice under the law for all.
My approach is to ensure that everyone feels heard, respected, and valued. For litigants and attorneys, I prioritize clear, plain language so that legal processes and expectations are fully understood, removing unnecessary barriers to justice. For our court staff, I foster a collaborative, supportive environment where open communication ensures our daily operations run smoothly and efficiently. By listening patiently and leading with a calm, professional temperament, I maintain an accessible, respectful courtroom where justice is delivered fairly for all.
Campaign Phone Number
4255309041
Biography (max 750 char)
As a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, I handle complex and high-profile criminal cases. My caseload consists of homicides, child sex crimes, distribution of illegal drugs, and gun violence. I am a member of the Cowlitz County Multi-Disciplinary Team that addresses crimes against children. I have spent my entire career advocating for victim rights and trying to make the community safer. Justice depends on the rule of law. There is no place in our courts for politics, favoritism, or personal opinion. Our courts need to be fair while also holding people accountable. I am supported by local law enforcement and other community leaders.
Real life courtroom experience and knowledge of the law. I have taken over 50 cases to trial in Cowlitz County. I currently serve as the representative for the Cowlitz County Prosecutor's Office on the Washington State Prosecutor's Appellate Committee. I have filed over 20 substantive briefs between the Court of Appeals and Washington State Supreme Court in the last three years.
I also believe it is the duty of the judge to ensure that all parties in the courtroom are treated with dignity and respect. This means ensuring that both parties, even in contentious disputes, treat each other with respect. There should not be personal attacks or other derogatory remarks made during the litigation process. It is important that everyone acts appropriately in a courtroom.
I would make sure that every party is heard and that everyone is treated with respect. The courtroom is a place where people are usually there not by choice. People's emotions are high, they do not want to be there, and it is usually some of the worst moments of their life. Attorney's go through this routinely and represent these individual in most matters. It is important that all parties are heard, while everyone takes the process seriously and professionally.
A judge sets the tone of the courtroom. If the judge does not demand that all parties act professionally, then the courtroom becomes a place of personal insults instead of dealing with the actual legal matters at hand. A judge should listen but also set the expectations of behavior.
A judge controls the pace of litigation. Most continuances are discretionary decisions of the judge. Having practiced in Superior Courts I understand when people are trying to delay versus actually needing a continuance. This experience allows me to know what questions to ask of the parties and how to use the discretion given to judges on continuances appropriately.
Improving access to justice depends on ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect in the courtroom. Many individuals do not feel that their voice will be heard or taken seriously. Ensuring that people are heard, treated respectfully, and that everyone acts professionally, improves access. All parties to a case should be treated the same.
Diversity of the judges should not be the question. The question should be if the judges understand the diversity within their community and can apply the law fairly and equally. The constitution does not discriminate based on who the person is. A judge should be the most qualified person for the job. Part of what makes them qualified is understanding the different perspectives within the community. Making the decision based on diversity changes the focus from who understands the community they would be a judge for. Justice is blind, and who administers justice should be treated the same way.
Open, honest, and transparent. Everyone needs to remember the court system is an adversarial process and emotions can come into play. While there can be contested disputes and nobody likes to lose, it is important to remember to never make personal attacks. Everyone has their position that you may or may not agree with. But it should never be a situation where the communication does not remain professional and leaks into personal insults.
