Andrea Chin is a candidate for a vacant seat on the Seattle Municipal Court bench.  With 26 years of experience as an Assistant City Attorney, working daily in our state’s busiest court, Andrea brings both a depth of knowledge about this important Court and an understanding of the continuous challenges facing the criminal justice system in Seattle.  She has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by six independent Bar Associations.

Andrea has deep roots in Seattle.  Her father grew up in the Chinatown-International District, and her mother grew up in a Belltown apartment behind the family laundry business. Andrea and her two brothers were raised in the Mt. Baker neighborhood and attended Franklin High School.  Andrea graduated from Occidental College and then spent several years working as Assistant Director of Admissions at the California Institute of Technology where she developed a program to recruit qualified women to this prestigious science and engineering institution.  After graduating from law school, Andrea returned to her native Seattle and began a career with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office where she tried criminal cases, argued appeals at every state court level, and  trained and supervised new lawyers.

The Seattle Municipal Court has developed special courts for both veterans and those with untreated mental illness, and Andrea has been instrumental in making both a success. She has seen how these problem-solving courts can address public safety concerns while also improving the lives of repeat offenders who suffer from chemical dependency, personal trauma, and untreated mental illness. But Andrea understands we need to do more.  She will be the kind of judge who will work with city leaders to strike an appropriate balance between public safety and offering a helping hand.

As Past President of the Asian Bar Association of Washington, Andrea is a recognized and proven leader. In the coming years, Seattle will continue to enjoy -- but also struggle with -- cultural and economic changes. We need experienced leaders like Andrea who are invested in keeping Seattle a great place to live and work – for everyone.

Selected Endorsements: National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington; King County Democrats and Young Democrats; 11th, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 37th, 43rd, and 46th District Democrats; Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle; MLK County Labor Council; IAM 751; ATU 587; Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters, IUPAT District Council 5; all nine Washington Supreme Court justices; Pete Holmes, Sen. Manka Dhingra; Ron Sims.