SNOHOMISH COUNTY—Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced Tuesday, April 2, that Edmonds Municipal Court Presiding Judge, Whitney M. Rivera, has been appointed to the Snohomish County Superior Court, replacing Judge Anita Ferris who is set to retire on April 30.
“Whitney Rivera is a tireless, well-respected and experienced judicial officer and lawyer, and she is well prepared to serve the Snohomish County community in this role,” said Gov. Inslee. “I’m pleased that she will bring her integrity, work ethic, experience and compassion to the Snohomish County Superior Court bench.”
Judge Rivera has served as the sole Edmonds Municipal Court Judge since November of 2020, hearing all criminal matters, traffic infractions, and administrative appeals, as well as leading the management of the court’s operations in the city. She also helped bolster the city’s Community Court, which seeks to address many underlying issues that can cause an individual to become involved in the court system in the first place.
Before Judge Rivera was appointed to Edmonds Municipal Court, and subsequently winning an election in 2021 to retain her seat, she served as a public defender with the Snohomish County Public Defender Association for 12 years, handling misdemeanor and felony cases, while holding a supervisory role in the misdemeanor unit.
Judge Rivera also served as an attorney at law for the Washington Appelate Project, representing indigent individuals on their direct appeals from convictions.
“Throughout her career, Rivera has been recognized by various organizations for her outstanding contributions, including the most recent Presidential Award in 2023 from the District and Municipal Court Judges Association,” Gov. Inslee’s Office wrote in a press release Tuesday.
In addition to her career in law and justice, Judge Rivera has had a tremendous impact on her community, serving on the Edmonds College Foundation Board since 2021, she focuses her volunteer efforts on student scholarships and grant requests.
In 2022, Judge Rivera was appointed to the Board of the Hazel Miller Foundation, which provides grants to organizations focused on a broad range of services, including education, youth services, diversity, and poverty alleviation.
And, in 2023, she was appointed to the Edmonds Food Bank Board, which partners with the Edmonds Community Court to assist with food insecurity.
Judge Rivera holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and her law degree from Boston College Law School.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
