Department 10

Judge Szambelan

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

Personal 


Married for 25+ years, 3 children