WA governor names newest Superior Court judge for Tri-Cities
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- Howell was appointed to fill the seat being vacated by Judge Diana Ruff effective June 1.
- Howell spent 10 years as a Benton County deputy prosecutor and four as a commissioner
A Tri-Cities court commissioner was named the next Benton and Franklin Superior Court judge.
Gov. Bob Ferguson picked Andrew Howell to fill the seat being left by Judge Diana Ruff on June 1. Ruff was more than halfway through her four-year term before deciding to leave the spot for personal reasons.
Howell will serve the remaining part of Ruff’s term, then he’ll need to run in 2027 if he wants to serve another four years.
Howell’s entire 14-year legal career has been spent in public service. First, he worked 10 years as a Benton County deputy prosecutor, eventually becoming the office’s chief deputy for the juvenile division.
He then stepped into the role as a court commissioner in 2022 as part of an expansion in the number of court commissioners.
The Benton and Franklin counties have a combined Superior Court with seven judges and five court commissioners.
Court commissioners, who are not elected, preside over family law, probate, guardianship and juvenile dockets. Superior Court judges handle felony and gross misdemeanor crimes and civil cases.
His path to a Superior Court judicial position was similar to Ruff’s, who was a deputy prosecutor before becoming a court commissioner and then picked to serve as a Superior Court judge.
Howell has been a regular figure in Benton County, where he has handled motions related to felony criminal cases, along with other civil and juvenile cases. He serves on several judicial committees as well.
“Andrew Howell has spent his entire legal career in Central Washington working hard on behalf of Washingtonians,” Ferguson said in a news release. “I’m confident he will provide steady leadership in this joint judicial district.”
Howell said he is deeply honored by the appointment.
“I am committed to upholding the Constitution and ensuring our courts remain fair, accessible and grounded in respect for all who appear before them,” he said. “I look forward to continuing my work in public service and upholding public confidence in the judiciary.”
In his spare time, he considers himself an amateur cook, a gravel bike enthusiast and a “poor excuse for a fly-fisherman,” according to a state news release.
Howell earned his bachelor’s degree from Creighton University, a private Catholic school in Omaha, Neb., and his law degree from the University of Montana.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:34 PM.