Born and raised in a union household in Seattle’s Central District, Judge Crawford-Willis is the daughter of Boeing production line workers. She joined the Seattle Municipal Court in 2017 after 30 years in public service as a public defender, judge pro tem, and administrative law judge. Throughout her career she has proven to be an impartial, compassionate, and exceedingly fair-minded judicial officer.

Judge Crawford-Willis is a graduate of Seattle University and its School of Law who has held leadership roles on the SU Board of Regents and the Law Alumni Board. Presently an SU Board of Trustees member, she was named the 2014 SU Law School Woman of the Year in recognition of her distinguished career. Judge Crawford-Willis served as a 13-year board member of the King County Boys & Girls Clubs and as a member-at-large on the Loren Miller Bar Association executive board. She is also a member of the District and Municipal Court Judges Association Executive Board and the Washington State Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission. She recently received the Washington State Bar Association’s 2022 Outstanding Judge Award.

Throughout her career, she has focused on ensuring equal access to justice for all Seattleites and expanding her court’s Community Resource Center to provide essential services to those most in need. She is known particularly for her ability to balance accountability with empathy. Above all, Judge Crawford-Willis wants every person appearing in her courtroom to feel seen, heard, and respected.

Anita and her husband, Pervis, live in South Seattle with their daughter, Taylor. They enjoy traveling, attending Seattle philanthropic events, and cheering on Seattle University’s Redhawks.

Endorsements: Judge Crawford-Willis is endorsed by all nine members of the Washington State Supreme Court.

Campaign leadership: Jeff Pyatt, Campaign Chair; Justice Bobbe Bridge & John McKay, Honorary Co-Chairs