J. Reiko Callner - Executive Director
Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct
Executive Director J. Reiko Callner will describe the function of our state’s Judicial Conduct Commission: “internal affairs” for our state judiciary This constitutional, independent agency is charged with both maintaining ethics in the judicial branch and safeguarding judicial independence. Ms. Callner will share examples of judges who have been sanctioned, and why, and answer questions.
About the Speaker
Ms. Callner has served as the Executive Director of the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct since 2005. She previously served the agency as its senior investigator, beginning in 1997. Ms. Callner is an emeritus board member of the national Association of Judicial Disciplinary Counsel, and is past Chair of the Washington State Human Rights Commission. Ms. Callner worked as a prosecutor for ten years and has represented Child Protective Services. She has taught for the American Judicature Society, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the National Center for State Courts, and has made presentations to a wide variety of public agencies and private organizations. She has assisted the US State Department and non-governmental organizations in improving judicial ethics and independence in over 35 foreign countries.
Ms. Callner has an undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and a J.D. from the University of Washington. She was a law clerk for retired Washington State Supreme Court Justice Robert Utter and is a licensed Zumba instructor.
