Judge Michael Finkle has served as a King County District Court Judge since 2010. He has a proven record of helping to improve the criminal justice system, and is highly respected for his legal expertise and leadership.

Judge Finkle is currently working to create a Youth Court at the Redmond Courthouse. In 2012, he chaired the group that created the Regional Veterans Court within the King County District Court, and in 1998 he helped form Seattle Municipal Mental Health Court.

Judge Finkle has shared his knowledge with judges, attorneys and law students. He has published nationally and statewide about therapeutic justice and mental competency to stand trial. Judge Finkle has taught for the National and the Washington State Judicial Colleges, the Washington State Bar Association, and Seattle University School of Law.

Judge Finkle currently serves on a number of statewide boards and committees. He is a member of the District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association (DMCJA) and the Judicial Assistance Services Program. He is part of a committee preparing a mental health civil commitment guidebook for judges. Judge Finkle chairs the committee responsible for preparing forms regarding mental competency to stand trial, and serves on the DMCJA’s therapeutic courts committee.