Judicial Questionnaire – 2026 Revision
Candidate Info
Candidate Name: Pam Nogueira
Position Sought: Pierce County District Court Judge, Position 7
Are you an incumbent for this position? Non-incumbent
Home Legislative District: 27th LD
Campaign Info
Campaign Manager or Point of Contact: Pam Nogueira
List social media sites: pamforjudge.com or Pam Nogueira for Judge on Facebook
Part I – Candidate Background
1. Please describe your qualifications, education, employment, past community and civic activity, as well as any other relevant experience.
EDUCATION:
Juris Doctor, University of Washington School of Law, September 2013 – August 2015
Bachelors, University of Washington Tacoma, August 2012
LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
Attorney, McGavick Graves, March 2026 – Present
Judge Pro Tem, March 2026 – Present
Judge, Olympia Municipal Court, October 2023 – February 2026
Court Commissioner, Thurston Superior Court, March 2021 – September 2023
Judge Pro Tem, June 2019 – December 2021
Attorney, Ingram, Zelasko & Goodwin, November 2016 – November 2021
Intern/Attorney, Guy Glenn Law, March 2015 – October 2016
Tulalip Tribes Clinic (licensed), September 2014 – June 2015
Judicial Extern/Intern, June 2014 – March 2015
COMMUNITY/CIVIC ACTIVITY:
Advisory Board Member, University of Washington Tacoma Legal Pathways, April 2026 – Present
Board Member, Child Care Action Council, July 2022 – Present
Adjunct Professor, University of Washington School of Law, Fall 2025
Member, District and Municipal Court Judges Association (DMCJA), October 2023 – February 2026
o Co-Chair: Diversity Committee
o Taskforce Member: Washington Jail Modernization Task Force
o Taskforce Member: Leadership Ad Hoc Work Group
o Advisory Board Member: FAIR (Fair, Accessible, and Inclusive Responses) Court Project
o Committee Member: Council on Independent Courts, Education, Leadership, Legislative, Public Outreach, Therapeutic Courts, Washington Pattern Jury Instructions
Committee Member, AOC Pattern Forms – Civil Protection Orders, May 2023 – Present
Volunteer Judge, YMCA Mock Trial, 2023 – 2026
Volunteer Judge, University of Washington Moot Court, 2024 – 2026
Training Committee, Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA), Children’s Representation Program, February 2023 – June 2024
Volunteer Judge, American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), 2019 and 2021
City Council Member, Raymond City Council, September 2017 – May 2020
Volunteer, Willapa Harbor Business Week, 2018-2019
Coalition Member, Road to Resiliency, September 2017 – December 2019
LANGUAGES:
Brazilian Portuguese: Fluent/Native
American English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
2. What prompted you to run for this office?
I am running for this position specifically because it aligns with both my experience and purpose in public service. Pierce County District Court is where many people have their first and most direct interaction with the justice system. The decisions made there affect everyday lives in immediate and meaningful ways.
My background has prepared me particularly well for this court. As a former municipal court judge and superior court commissioner, I have experience making fair, timely, and impartial decisions from the bench. My work in criminal law, litigation, and protection orders directly reflects the core work of District Court, which means I can step into the role ready to serve on day one.
This position is also personal to me. Pierce County was the first place I called home in this country and where I attended college. Running for this court is an opportunity to give back to a community that helped shape my path.
Most importantly, I am running because I believe the court should be a place where people are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness regardless of who they are or why they enter the courtroom. I want to help ensure the court remains efficient, accessible, and grounded in the rule of law while maintaining public trust and confidence in the judiciary.
3. What do you believe are the most important qualifications for a judge or justice?
I believe the most important qualifications for a judge are integrity, impartiality, sound judgment, judicial temperament, legal experience, and a strong commitment to fairness and the rule of law.
Integrity is essential because the public must be able to trust that a judge will act ethically, honestly, and independently. Impartiality is equally critical. A judge must be able to set aside personal opinions, political pressures, and outside influences in order to apply the law consistently and fairly to every case.
Judges must be patient, respectful, even-tempered, and professional, particularly in stressful or emotionally charged situations. The ability to listen carefully, treat people with dignity, and maintain composure helps ensure that courtroom proceedings are fair and respectful for everyone involved.
Strong legal experience and preparation are also necessary. Judges must understand the law, courtroom procedure, and evidentiary rules while being able to analyze complex issues thoughtfully and efficiently. Preparation and careful decision-making are essential to ensuring fairness and maintaining confidence in the legal system.
Finally, I believe judges must recognize the importance of public trust and access to justice. Courts should be places where people feel heard, respected, and able to meaningfully participate in the process, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. A judge’s role is to uphold the law fairly while ensuring that the courtroom remains professional, accessible, and grounded in respect for due process and equal justice under the law.
4. What priorities are you seeking to address with your campaign?
My campaign is focused on three primary priorities: maintaining public trust and confidence in the judiciary, ensuring access to justice, and bringing experienced, professional leadership to the bench.
First, I believe courts must maintain the public’s trust by operating fairly, impartially, and respectfully. Every person who enters the courtroom should feel they were heard, treated with dignity, and given a fair process regardless of the outcome of their case. Public confidence in the justice system depends on judges who are prepared, even-tempered, and committed to applying the law consistently and without bias.
Second, I want to support greater access to justice. Many individuals navigate the court system without attorneys and may find court procedures confusing or intimidating. Courts should strive to be accessible, understandable, and efficient while protecting due process and fairness. I support clear communication from the bench, thoughtful use of technology where appropriate, and courtroom practices that help ensure people can meaningfully participate in the legal process.
Third, my campaign emphasizes experience and preparedness. My background as a former municipal court judge, superior court commissioner, and attorney practicing in criminal law, litigation, and protection orders has prepared me to serve effectively from day one. District Court handles high-volume and often complex matters that require sound judgment, professionalism, and strong courtroom management skills. I believe my experience and judicial temperament make me well-qualified to meet those responsibilities.
5. What is the code of conduct for your campaign?
My campaign is committed to conducting itself with integrity, professionalism, honesty, and respect for the judicial office and the public. Because judicial elections are different from partisan political campaigns, I believe it is especially important that the campaign reflect the impartiality, ethics, and professionalism expected of a judge.
First, the campaign will fully comply with all applicable judicial ethics rules, Washington State Public Disclosure Commission requirements, and campaign finance laws. Transparency, accountability, and ethical fundraising practices are essential to maintaining public confidence in both the campaign and the judiciary.
Second, I am committed to running a respectful and issue-focused campaign. The campaign will focus on my qualifications, experience, judicial temperament, and commitment to fairness and the rule of law rather than personal attacks or divisive rhetoric. I believe judicial campaigns should educate voters about a candidate’s ability to serve fairly and competently on the bench.
Third, the campaign will prioritize honesty and accuracy in all communications. Voters deserve truthful information about candidates, the role of the court, and the responsibilities of judicial office.
Campaigns should treat everyone with dignity and respect, including opponents, volunteers, supporters, court staff, attorneys, and members of the public. Civility and professionalism are important not only during the campaign, but also because they reflect the type of leadership and judicial temperament the public should expect from someone seeking judicial office.
Part II – Access to Justice
1. If elected, how will you work to improve access to justice, particularly for communities and constituencies that do not understand the American legal system?
Improving access to justice begins with recognizing that many people enter the legal system without familiarity with court procedures, legal terminology, or the structure of the American justice system. For some individuals — including immigrants, refugees, non-native English speakers, and self-represented litigants — the court process can feel intimidating, confusing, and inaccessible.
If elected, I would work to ensure that every person who appears before the court is treated with dignity, patience, and respect, regardless of their background or level of familiarity with the legal system. Clear communication from the bench is extremely important. Judges should explain procedures, expectations, and rulings in language that people can understand while still maintaining neutrality and professionalism.
Language access is also critical to meaningful participation in the justice system. I support ensuring that interpreters and translated resources are available so individuals can fully understand proceedings and communicate effectively in court. Courts function best when all participants are able to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the legal process.
Technology and accessible court resources can help reduce barriers. Remote appearances for appropriate proceedings, user-friendly informational materials, online access to court information, and clear instructions for self-represented litigants can improve access for individuals who may face transportation, work, childcare, or language barriers. At the same time, courts must remain mindful that not everyone has equal access to technology, so accommodations and in-person access must remain available.
In addition, I would support continued community outreach and public education efforts through schools, community organizations, bar associations, and civic groups to help people better understand the role of the courts and how to navigate the legal system.
My own experience as someone for whom Pierce County was the first place I called home in this country has also shaped my understanding of how unfamiliar systems can feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate. That perspective reinforces my belief that courts should strive to be accessible, understandable, and respectful to everyone who comes before them.
2. Is Washington relying too much on court fees to cover the cost of operating our judicial system? How do you believe our courts should be funded?
Washington has already taken important steps in recent years regarding legal financial obligations and ability-to-pay considerations. Judges should continue carefully applying those legal standards. When courts do impose fines or costs authorized by law, they should thoughtfully consider the individual circumstances of the person involved and whether the obligations serve legitimate legal and public policy purposes.
Courts provide an essential public function and should primarily be funded through stable and transparent public funding mechanisms rather than through financial burdens placed disproportionately on people involved in the court system. A well-functioning judiciary benefits the entire community by resolving disputes, protecting rights, promoting public safety, and maintaining the rule of law.
3. Would you, if elected, bring restorative justice as a goal to your court room? If yes, describe how that could look.
Restorative justice principles can play a constructive role within the legal system when they are authorized by law, appropriate to the circumstances, and implemented in a way that protects due process, accountability, and public safety.
Restorative approaches recognize that criminal conduct can cause harm not only to individual victims, but also to families and the broader community, and they seek to promote accountability, repair harm where possible, and reduce future involvement in the justice system.
If elected, I would support evidence-based and legally authorized practices that encourage accountability and rehabilitation while maintaining fairness and impartiality. In practice, that could include support for diversion programs, treatment courts, community-based alternatives, restitution-focused resolutions, or structured opportunities for individuals to take responsibility for their actions and address underlying issues such as substance use disorders, behavioral health challenges, or trauma.
At the same time, restorative justice is not appropriate in every case, and a judge must always carefully consider the facts, the law, victim safety, community safety, and the rights of all parties involved. Any approach used in the courtroom must remain grounded in judicial neutrality, due process, and the specific authority granted to the court.
4. What ideas can you offer to make our judicial system more open, transparent, and responsive?
We should always strive to make the judicial system more open, transparent, and responsive.
In continued judicial education, we discuss making proceedings and decisions more accessible to the public by using clear communication, improving language access services, and ensuring people understand their rights, obligations, and the court process itself.
Transparency also requires consistency and accountability. Judges should explain their decisions clearly on the record whenever possible so litigants understand not only the outcome, but the reasoning behind it. Courts should continue expanding access to remote hearings and online resources when appropriate, while balancing fairness, due process, and public safety.
Courts strongly benefit from meaningful community engagement. Judges and court leadership should participate in outreach, educational programs, and collaborative efforts with community organizations, attorneys, and service providers to better understand the barriers people face when interacting with the legal system.
Finally, we ought to recognize that people come to court during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Every person should be treated with dignity, patience, and respect, regardless of background or circumstance. A court system that is accessible, understandable, and respectful strengthens confidence in the rule of law and improves outcomes for the entire community.
5. What are your thoughts on how our courts could permanently incorporate virtual options for court hearings?
Virtual court proceedings have expanded access to justice in important ways. Courts should continue to incorporate virtual options where they improve accessibility, efficiency, and participation without compromising fairness or due process.
Remote appearances can reduce barriers for many people, including individuals with limited transportation, disabilities, childcare responsibilities, work conflicts, or those living in rural communities. Virtual access can also improve participation for victims, witnesses, interpreters, and attorneys while helping courts manage crowded calendars more efficiently.
At the same time, not every proceeding is appropriate for a virtual format. Courts must carefully evaluate when in-person appearances are necessary to protect constitutional rights, ensure meaningful participation, assess credibility, maintain courtroom decorum, or address sensitive matters. Judicial discretion and the nature of the hearing should guide those decisions.
I believe the best long-term approach is a flexible hybrid system that allows courts to use technology thoughtfully while maintaining fairness and public confidence in the judicial process. To make virtual access successful, courts must also invest in reliable technology, language access services, public access accommodations, and clear procedures so all participants can engage effectively regardless of their resources or technological familiarity.
6. Justice delayed is justice denied, what are your thoughts on how to catch up on the current backlog of cases awaiting trail? Additionally what changes to the current court system would you implement to ensure speedy justice?
This reflects a very real concern for victims, defendants, families, attorneys, and the broader community. Delays can undermine public confidence in the legal system and create significant emotional, financial, and constitutional consequences for everyone involved. Addressing case backlogs requires both immediate practical solutions and long-term improvements to court operations.
In the short term, courts should focus on efficient case management, early identification of cases that can be resolved without trial, and better coordination among judges, attorneys, clerks, and service providers. Expanding settlement conferences, diversion opportunities where appropriate, and alternative dispute resolution programs can help resolve certain matters more efficiently while preserving court resources for cases that truly require trial. Courts should also continue using technology strategically for scheduling, status hearings, and administrative matters to reduce unnecessary delays.
Long term, courts must be adequately funded and staffed to meet the demands placed upon them. That includes judicial officers, public defenders, prosecutors, clerks, interpreters, and treatment and support services. A court system cannot provide timely justice if it lacks the resources necessary to function effectively.
Nevertheless, speed can never come at the expense of fairness or due process. Judges must balance efficiency with the obligation to ensure every party is heard, prepared, and treated fairly. My approach would emphasize preparation, organization, respectful courtroom management, and consistent scheduling practices so cases move forward efficiently while preserving the integrity of the process.
A well-functioning court system should deliver justice that is both timely and fair, because the public deserves both.
7. What judicial reforms do you support to achieve greater equity and inclusion for BIPOC individuals in our communities?
I support reforms that promote equal treatment under the law, improve public confidence in the courts, and address barriers that have historically affected BIPOC communities and other underserved populations. A fair justice system requires not only impartial decision-making, but also a recognition that people may experience the legal system differently based on language barriers, economic circumstances, cultural differences, or prior interactions with institutions.
One important reform is improving access to justice through expanded language access services, clearer court communication, and increased availability of remote participation options where appropriate. Courts should also continue investing in education and training related to implicit bias, trauma-informed practices, mental health, and cultural competency so judicial officers and court staff are better equipped to interact fairly and respectfully with all individuals who appear before the court.
I also support the use of data-driven evaluation of court practices to identify disparities in outcomes and ensure policies are being applied consistently and fairly. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust.
At the same time, every person who enters the courtroom must be treated as an individual. Judges must apply the law impartially, protect constitutional rights, and ensure decisions are based on the facts and law before the court, not assumptions or stereotypes. Equity and inclusion in the justice system ultimately require both fairness in process and dignity in treatment.
As someone who came to this country as an immigrant and built my education and legal career in Washington, I understand the importance of ensuring courts remain accessible, understandable, and respectful to people from all backgrounds and experiences.
By typing my name below, I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.
Printed Name: Pam Nogueira
Date: 05/24/2026
