Judge Leonard W. Costello
Department No. 1

Judge Costello is a native of Kitsap County, having graduated from West Bremerton High School. He graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  He earned his J.D. from University of California Hastings College of Law.  

Judge Costello practiced in a private law firm for eight years.  Subsequently, he served Kitsap County in the combined position of Court Commissioner and Land Use Hearing Examiner from 1981 to 1988.  He then served as the full time Court Commissioner from 1988 to 1992.  Elected to the Kitsap County Superior Court Bench in 1992, Judge Costello has been re-elected each term since that time.  

Judge Costello was instrumental in implementing the Kitsap County Juvenile Drug Court Program and presided over it from 1999 to 2002.  He has served as Presiding Judge for two terms, and has been active in numerous committees for the Superior Court Judges' Association.  In addition to his judicial assignments, Judge Costello currently serves as President of the Superior Court Judges' Association.    

Judge Costello participates actively in Rotary. Other community activities have included service as Chair of Olympic College Board of Trustees and volunteer tutoring with the Literacy Council of Kitsap.