Retirement Of Judge Kitty-Ann Van Doorninck In Pierce County

University Place WA

30 March, 2022

9:27 PM

Description

Press release from the Pierce County Government: March 24, 2022 Pierce County Superior Court is announcing the retirement of Judge Kitty-Ann van Doorninck after more than 24 years serving the citizens of Pierce County. Judge van Doorninck's last day will be March 31, 2022. Judge van Doorninck's parents, Wolter and Anneka van Doorninck, immigrated from the Netherlands, by way of Montreal, Canada, where her older brother was born. The family moved to Seattle when her father was hired by Boeing as an engineer in 1957. The moment her parents were eligible, they became United States citizens and have always been actively engaged in politics. Judge van Doorninck's parents instilled the value of hard work and a commitment to community in her. Judge van Doorninck married her husband, John Van Buskirk, in 1979. They have two adult sons. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Political Science from Cal-Poly Pomona in 1980. The couple then moved to Tacoma so Judge van Doorninck could attend the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University). After graduating from law school in 1983, Judge van Doorninck started her career with the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. During her tenure with the Prosecutor's Office, she spent years focused on special assault cases (child abuse, rape, and domestic violence). She tried several murder cases with colleagues who now also serve, or have previously served, on the Superior Court bench. In 1989, Judge van Doorninck was the first attorney appointed to the Administrator Deputy position under the leadership of Pierce County Prosecutor John Ladenburg. In that role, she oversaw personnel issues, policies, procedures, and budgets. In 1998, Judge van Doorninck was appointed to the newly created Department 20 of the Pierce County Superior Court by Governor Gary Locke. This press release was produced by the Pierce County Government. The views expressed here are the author's own.