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 helping 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.  She obtained the highest judicial rating, “Exceptionally Well Qualified,” from the King County Bar Association, Washington Women Lawyers, LGBT-QLaw, and Joint Asian Bar Associations of Washington. Judge Gehlsen has received endorsements from judges at every court level and honored to receive the Washington Women Lawyers Vanguard Award, the Flame of Democracy Award, the Washington Judges’ Foundation Nevins Award and Snohomish County Judge of the Year. 

Judge Gehlsen respectfully asks for your vote.