Attorneys, elected officials and courthouse staff crowded into a fourth-floor courtroom at the Clark County Courthouse to watch Christine Hayes be sworn in as the county’s newest Superior Court judge on Friday.
Presiding Superior Court Judge Derek Vanderwood marveled at the overflowing gallery. It was a testament, he said, to the way Hayes connects with those around her.
Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Hayes last month to fill the county’s newly created 12th judicial department. Prior to taking her oath Friday, she was a Superior Court commissioner since 2022, where she largely presided over family law and juvenile cases. She previously worked as the Battle Ground city attorney and as a city prosecutor in municipal and District Court. She received her law degree from Gonzaga University.
Hayes said when she received the call from the governor’s office about her selection, she was overcome with emotion. She said she knew from a young age she wanted to pursue a law career, and her family, friends and supporters helped propel her to the appointment.
“As a commissioner, I had the opportunity to preside over family law dockets, civil protection order dockets, civil and criminal juvenile dockets,” she said. “I believe that this time helped better prepare me to become a judge, but it also allowed me to find what I now believe in my true passion in law, which is juvenile justice.”
Superior Court Judge Tsering Cornell, who is now the county’s second-newest judge, praised Hayes’ dedication and her compassion. She highlighted the way Hayes is “a daughter of Clark County.” Hayes graduated from Mountain View High School and returned to the area following law school.
She said Hayes always goes the extra mile, like when Hayes put together what she called “baskets of distraction” for kids who wind up in court with their parents. Cornell said the baskets are “all designed to make the courthouse a little less scary for those youngsters.”
“Watching Judge Hayes is a master class in judicial demeanor,” Cornell said.
Hayes’ appointment keeps the bench’s majority female, making her the seventh woman currently serving as a Superior Court judge. Hayes noted the year she was born was the year Clark County’s first woman judge was appointed and that just six years ago, there was still only one local woman Superior Court judge.
“One of the most gratifying aspects that I thought about with this appointment is that for my little girl and for all other little girls, they’re going to grow up seeing female judges as commonplace,” Hayes said. “It’s not something unique to them.”
After Vanderwood administered Hayes’ oath, her father, Jay Hayes, and her husband, Ryan Busby, helped her don the signature black robe.
Commissioner Erin Priest told stories of meeting Hayes and working alongside her. She said throughout the close friendship that followed, she’s seen how giving and supportive Hayes is, personally and professionally.
“Her willingness to help those in need will be her biggest asset as a judge,” Priest said.
Hayes promised Friday to keep top of mind the commitments she made when she became a commissioner to continue to recognize the importance of the role and the impacts her decisions have.
“As I take on this new role, I’m acutely aware of the responsibilities that come with it,” Hayes said. “The courtroom is a place where lives are changed, where justice is sought and where every individual deserves to be heard. I remain committed to upholding the principles of fairness, impartiality and respect for all who come before me.”
