Judge William Houser
Department No. 4
Judge Houser graduated from Willamette University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He earned his Juris Doctor from Willamette University College of Law. He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1983 and the Washington State Bar in 2003.
Judge Houser's varied 30 year career includes his work as a prosecutor, partner in a small law firm and public defender. In Kitsap County he worked with The Law Office of Wecker/Hunko and the firm of Crawford, McGilliard, Peterson & Yelish. Immediately prior to his 2014 appointment to the bench by Governor Inslee, he was an attorney with the Kitsap County Public Defender Division since 2010.
Judge Houser served on the board of trustees and Vice President of the Kitsap County Bar Association. He served a term on the Washington State Bar Civil Rights Committee. He was a member of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Legislative Committee. While practicing in Oregon he served on the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates, Uniform Criminal Jury Instructions Committee and on the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Legislative Committee. He served as a continuing legal education speaker on professionalism and legislative updates. He enjoys working as a parent volunteer with the Kitsap Children's Musical Theater.
Judge Houser's Law Clerk: