Judge Bardi Martin brings proven courtroom experience, steady judgment, and a lifelong commitment to King County to the District Court bench. Unanimously appointed by the King County Council to serve as a District Court Judge, he is a graduate of the University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law and has built his career in the courts and communities he now serves.

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Judge Martin began his legal career in King County courtrooms as a public defender, protecting the constitutional rights of people who could not afford council. He later built a successful Seattle law practice representing individuals and small businesses in civil and criminal matters. Before his appointment to the bench, he also served as a judge pro tempore, gaining valuable experience from both sides of the courtroom.

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Today, Judge Martin presides over criminal calendars, protection orders, small claims, civil cases, and community court. He brings broad courtroom experience, careful preparation, and deep respect for the people who come before the court. His courtroom is organized, respectful, and clear: he listens carefully, explains rulings plainly, applies the law fairly, and treats every person with dignity.

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Judge Martin believes courts earn public trust through fairness, transparency, and accountability. Public safety and equal justice are not competing values — they depend on each other. Safe communities require courts that work, courts that listen, and courts that people can trust.