Department 10

Michelle "Shelley" D. Szambelan

Department 10
Courtroom 4A
Title: Superior Court Judge
Phone: 509-477-5792 

• Current Assignment: Trial Judge
• Elected: 2018

Judicial Assistant:  Melanie Morman, 509-477-5792 -  mmorman@spokanecounty.org
Court Reporter: Terri Rosadovelazquez 509-477-4448 - trosadovelazquez@spokanecounty.org

Career Highlights

• Spokane Municipal Court Judge, Jan., 2009- March, 2018
  • Presiding Judge:  2013-2017
  • Ass’t Presiding Judge:  2009-2013
• Pro Tem Superior Court Judge 
• Ass’t Spokane City Attorney, Civil Division, 2008
• Ass’t Spokane City Prosecutor, Appellate, 1999-Aug. 2008
• Acting Spokane City Prosecutor, Aug., 2005-May, 2006
• Private practice, civil litigation, 1992-1999
• Judge Pro Tem, Spokane District Court 1996-1999
• Arizona Court of Appeals, 1992 Clerk Class

Professional Affiliations, Committees

• Panel of Contributors, Black’s Law Dictionary, 9th ed.
• Washington State Ethics Advisory Committee, 2015-2018
• Spokane Regional Law & Justice Council
• Superior Court Judges Association
• District & Municipal Court Judges Association, 2009-2018
• Legislative Committee, 2009-2018 (Exec. Comm., 2010-2018)
• Rules Committee, 2009-2018 (Chair, 2017-18)
• Washington State Judicial College
  • Dean
  • Faculty, 2013-2018
• Spokane County Bar Ass’n Trustee, 2006-2008
• Volunteer Lawyer Program, Board of Directors, 2006-2008
• Spokane Young Lawyers’ Division, Trustee (1993-94) & Officer (1994-95)
• Washington Women Lawyers, Spokane Chapter
  • Member since 1992
  • Officer, 1993-96
  • Past-President
  • Chapter Member of the Year
• Alpha Sigma Nu
• Gonzaga Law Review, Editorial Board
• Bar Admissions
  • Supreme Court of Arizona, 1991
  • Supreme Court of Washington, 1992
  • United States Supreme Court, 1995
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1994
  • United States Court of Federal Claims, 1997
  • United States District Court, Eastern Dist. of Washington, 1993

Civic Involvement

• Mentor
• Washington State Minority & Justice Commission, Youth & Justice Forum
• Gonzaga Preparatory High School, Board of Directors, 2012-present
• Team-teacher, Street Law Program
• Judges in the Classroom volunteer
• Cataldo Catholic School
  • Board of Directors, Chair 2011-12
  • Parent Advisory Council, 2005-Chair, 2009

 Education

• Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D. 1991
• Gonzaga University, B.S. 1988