Meet Linda
As a member of the Superior Court bench, I preside over general trials as well our Adult Felony Drug Court, which is a judicial responsibility unlike any found in traditional criminal justice. The judge is the ultimate authority, but also serves as a member of the experienced and caring drug court team consisting of prosecutor, defense counsel, substance abuse counselor/court liaison, and Department of Corrections community corrections officer. All of our participants are monitored through regular court sessions, treatment, monitoring, supervision, and if necessary confinement. The result is a dramatic reduction in recidivism and congested court caseloads; reunited families; increased employment, education, and health; and substantial financial savings to the justice system.
This assignment requires close working relationships with our local, state, and federal legislative and executive officials, and a commitment to understanding complex federal grant funding requirements. I serve on the Board of Directors of the Washington State Drug Court Professionals, and we keep very close connections during the Legislature. My goal has been to work toward funding Drug Court as a fully functioning court operation through traditional funding systems of County and State government, with diminishing reliance on federal resources.
In addition, I assume traditional weekly responsibilities as a motion and trial judge. I am frequently called upon to preside over Chief Criminal, Family Law, and Juvenile Court dockets, as well.
As a Superior Court judge, I’ve presided over hundreds of civil and criminal trials. Of those, approximately 75% were jury trials.
View Judge Linda Tompkins web page on the Spokane County Superior Court website.
Linda's Resume
Current Position
Judge Linda Tompkins has served on the Spokane County Superior Court bench since October 1997, currently as Trial Department and Felony Adult Drug Court Judge. She has served as Presiding Judge, Chief Family Law Judge, and in all civil and criminal trial departments. She chairs the Washington State Supreme Court’s GR 27 Advisory Committee on Courthouse Facilitator training and qualifications and has been a member of the Washington State Gender and Justice Commission, past chair of Washington State Access to Justice Board Education Committee and past chair of the Washington State Superior Court Judges Association Civil Law and Rules Committee. Linda has also served as faculty of the Washington State Judicial College.
Prior to taking the bench in 1997, she was a principal in the Spokane law firm of Lukins and Annis, P.S. and past chair of the Washington State Transportation Commission, Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Central Valley School Board.
She graduated with honors from Gonzaga University School of Law and University of Idaho. She and her husband, Tony, have two grown daughters, Rachel Carpenter and Sarah Tompkins.
Higher Education
University of Idaho 1970-74 B.S., Political Science Magna Cum Laude
Gonzaga University School of Law 1980-83 Juris Doctor Cum Laude
Employment History
Position/Title
Associate Attorney 1987-92 / Principal Attorney 1992-97
Organization
Lukins & Annis, P.S.
Dates
1987-97
Nature of Practice
Practice in the area of appellate, education, employment, municipal and quasi-municipal, contract, and family law; about 20% involving court appearances in appellate argument, motion or trial practice; extensive work with depositions, research, client contact; trained mediator since 1992; counsel during planning, contract negotiation, financing, construction, and opening of Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Position/Title
Judicial Law Clerk
Organization
Washington State Court of Appeals, Div. III
Dates
1984-87
Nature of Position
Review entire case file; identify and annotate key evidentiary, factual, and legal issues in the record; extensive research; draft memoranda of law; draft opinions and revisions for the judge’s review; participate in legal briefing sessions with judge, clerks, court commissioners.
Professional and Bar Activities
- 2007 Faculty, Washington State Judicial College
- 2002-05 Superior Court Presiding, Assistant Presiding, Chief Family Law Judge
- 2002-07 Member and Chair [2004] Superior/District Trial Court Coordinating Council
- 1998-02 Spokane Superior Court Personnel Committee Chair
- 2003-current Chair, Supreme Court GR 27 Advisory Committee-Courthouse Facilitator Qualifications and Training
- 2000-08 Member, Washington State Gender and Justice Commission
- 2006-current Member, Washington State Association of Drug Court Professionals
- 1999-current Member, Spokane Bench Bar Press Committee
- 2001-07 Member, SCBA VLP Advisory Committee
- 1990-current Member, Washington Women Lawyers, state and Spokane Chapters
- 2000-05 Chair and member, ATJ Board Education Committee
- 2001-05 Chair and member, SCJA Civil Law and Rules Committee
- 1995-current Member, SCBA Superior Court Liaison Committee
- 1997-current Courtroom presentations to visiting classes from Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University and Law School, Central Valley HS, Rogers HS, Shadle Park HS, Liberty High School, Girl Scouts; Mock trials with Girl Scouts; Judges in Classroom presentations to Spokane Alternative High School, Liberty Lake Elementary
- 1997 Member, Board of Directors, Washington Council of School Attorneys
- 1990-93 President, member of Board of Directors, Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce
- 1992-93 Member, Board of Directors, Momentum Spokane
- 1991 Graduate, Leadership Spokane
Public Service
Commissioner and Chair, 1993-97, Washington State Transportation Commission. Presided over numerous administrative hearings before the Commission, and participated in policy decisions improving diversity and fairness in the agency workplace, budgeting toward a geographically and modally balanced transportation system, and improving environmental compliance.
Member and President, 1983-95, Central Valley School District Board of Directors
Elected for three terms. Presided over numerous personnel and student hearings before the Board, participated in a broad array of policy decisions enhancing curriculum quality, student performance, safety, labor-management relations and strategic planning.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge-1997-2008
Personal
Linda and Tony with daughters Sarah and Rachel