Judge Michelle Gehlsen joined the King County District Court in 2019 after she was unanimously appointed by the King County Council.  Prior to her appointment, she served as Presiding Judge of Bothell Municipal Court for nine years.

In addition to presiding over regular court proceedings, Judge Gehlsen was chosen to preside over Redmond’s Community Court, an alternative problem-solving court aimed at keeping low-level offenders from repeatedly cycling through the criminal justice system. With her deep commitment to judicial involvement in the community, she founded the Bothell Youth Court in 2013, which then inspired the creation of Redmond Youth Court in 2019. 

In 2020, Judge Gehlsen was honored to be selected by over 200 judges of the District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association as their President.  Judge Gehlsen has received endorsements from judges at every court level and has been honored to receive the Washington Women Lawyers Vanguard Award, the Flame of Democracy Award, the Washington Judges’ Foundation Nevin Award, Snohomish County Judge of the Year, and Judge Steiner Leadership Award.

Endorsed by:  National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington, Democrats for Diversity & Inclusion; King County Democrats; 1st, 5th, 41st, 45th, and 48th LD Democrats; Teamsters JC 28; Machinists (IAM 751)