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Judge Fa'amomoi Masaniai
The King County Council unanimously appointed Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai to the King County District Court bench in 2021. He was re-elected by the voters in 2022. During his time on the bench, he has handled Criminal and Civil matters in King County District Court Seattle, MRJC, and Auburn locations. He has been the trial judge in over fifty (50) jury trials during that time. He has also handled Small Claims trials and pretrials, Name Changes, Orders for Protections, Tow Hearings, and Infraction hearings.
In 2023, he was assigned to the Regional Mental Health and Regional Veteran’s Court which provides an alternative to mainstream cases.
As a member of the KCDC Law Day Committee, Judge Masaniai hosts annual visits with several schools in the South End to educate them on the Criminal Justice System, providing access to justice, while promoting diversity for all through Mock Trials and presentations. He also travels to those schools to assist with the Civics departments while presenting on Constitutional Rights, How the Government Works, Separation of Powers, and the Washington State Court system.
Prior to his appointment, Judge Masaniai served as a pro tem judge for various municipal courts including Seattle, Renton, SeaTac, Des Moines, Issaquah, and Puyallup. In 2015, he also served as a Pro tempore Commissioner for the King County Superior Court Juvenile Division.
Additionally, his legal experience includes work in both criminal defense and prosecution. He has argued cases in numerous legal venues, including district and municipal courts in Washington state; the United States District Courts for Western and Eastern Washington; the United States Bankruptcy Court; and courts in American Samoa. Judge Masaniai also is a former federal appointed independent Prosecutor assigned to prosecute human trafficking, fraudulent immigration matters and public corruption in American Samoa.
Active in the Puget Sound Region’s Pacific Islander Community, Judge Masaniai is the first judge of Samoan heritage to serve on the bench of a court in Washington state. He also is believed to be the first graduate of the Washington State Bar Association’s Rule 6 Law Clerk Program to be appointed to the bench.
Judge Masaniai notes that he grew up “in the poorer parts of town in White Center, Burien, SeaTac and San Francisco.” He adds, “I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve the people of King County as a district court judge. In the Samoan community, love, respect and honor are important values, which I am committed to bring to all people who come into my courtroom.”
Judge Masaniai is a proud graduate of Evergreen Senior High School and Washington State University.
In 2023, he was assigned to the Regional Mental Health and Regional Veteran’s Court which provides an alternative to mainstream cases.
As a member of the KCDC Law Day Committee, Judge Masaniai hosts annual visits with several schools in the South End to educate them on the Criminal Justice System, providing access to justice, while promoting diversity for all through Mock Trials and presentations. He also travels to those schools to assist with the Civics departments while presenting on Constitutional Rights, How the Government Works, Separation of Powers, and the Washington State Court system.
Prior to his appointment, Judge Masaniai served as a pro tem judge for various municipal courts including Seattle, Renton, SeaTac, Des Moines, Issaquah, and Puyallup. In 2015, he also served as a Pro tempore Commissioner for the King County Superior Court Juvenile Division.
Additionally, his legal experience includes work in both criminal defense and prosecution. He has argued cases in numerous legal venues, including district and municipal courts in Washington state; the United States District Courts for Western and Eastern Washington; the United States Bankruptcy Court; and courts in American Samoa. Judge Masaniai also is a former federal appointed independent Prosecutor assigned to prosecute human trafficking, fraudulent immigration matters and public corruption in American Samoa.
Active in the Puget Sound Region’s Pacific Islander Community, Judge Masaniai is the first judge of Samoan heritage to serve on the bench of a court in Washington state. He also is believed to be the first graduate of the Washington State Bar Association’s Rule 6 Law Clerk Program to be appointed to the bench.
Judge Masaniai notes that he grew up “in the poorer parts of town in White Center, Burien, SeaTac and San Francisco.” He adds, “I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve the people of King County as a district court judge. In the Samoan community, love, respect and honor are important values, which I am committed to bring to all people who come into my courtroom.”
Judge Masaniai is a proud graduate of Evergreen Senior High School and Washington State University.