OLYMPIA – Today Governor Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Tyson R. Hill to the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III — his first appellate appointment since taking office in January. Hill’s appointment, effective Jan. 1, 2026, fills the position being vacated by Judge George Fearing’s retirement that date.
Hill is a career public servant with more than two decades of legal experience as a superior court and district court judge, judge pro tempore, appellate attorney and prosecutor. He has served more than four years in his current role as Grant County Superior Court Judge in Ephrata, appointed by Governor Jay Inslee in 2021. He co-founded and presided over Grant County’s first therapeutic drug court, and he has regularly served as a pro tem judge for the Court of Appeals, Division III.
“Judge Hill will be an excellent addition to Division III of the Court of Appeals,” Governor Ferguson said. “His commitment to our justice system combined with his broad legal experience will serve Washingtonians well.”
“I am grateful to the Governor and to all those who have supported me over the years,” Judge Hill said. “Serving as a judge can be challenging, but I am passionate about our justice system. I look forward to transitioning from a referee on the field to a replay official in the booth.”
Prior to becoming a Superior Court Judge, Hill served more than seven years on the Grant County District Court bench, where he presided over hundreds of civil and criminal cases each year. He also served four years as the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office’s lead appellate attorney, where he argued before Division III and the Washington State Supreme Court. Hill investigated and prosecuted a broad range of felony cases, including murder, arson and assault offenses.
Earlier in his career, he clerked for Washington State Supreme Court Justice James M. Johnson. Hill also worked as a consultant to the U.S. - China Economic & Security Review Commission.
Outside the courtroom, Hill served on Washington State Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Appellate Committee, the District and Municipal Judge’s Association Board of Governors and the Superior Court Judge’s Association Ethics and Rural Courts Committees. Hill also enjoys speaking in the community on issues related to the justice system.
Hill earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his law degree from the University of Washington.
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