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
- 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
Personal
Married for 25+ years, 3 children