Judge Christine Quinn-Brintnall took office in November 2000 after being elected to the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II, which covers Pierce County and 12 other counties. Between 2004 - 2007, she served as the court’s Chief Judge.
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Judge Quinn-Brintnall prevailed in the 2006 primary election against Beth Jenson.[1]
Raised in Astoria, Oregon, she has lived in Pierce County since 1973. She received a B.A. degree from The Evergreen State College and a law degree from the University of Puget Sound (1980), now Seattle University Law School. At UPS she served on Law Review, was named Outstanding Woman Law Student for two years, and graduated with honors.
Judge Quinn-Brintnall is an experienced trial attorney and appellate attorney. Before being elected to the bench, she worked for 15 years in criminal law and six years in public civil law. She argued many cases before the Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court, including 97 published cases that set precedent.
While still in law school, Chris worked for King County, Washington as a Rule 9 intern on felony prosecutions and appeals. After completing law school, she clerked for Judge James A. Andersen at the Court of Appeals, Division I, and then worked for King County as a deputy prosecuting attorney.
For Pierce County government, Quinn-Brintnall was Chief Criminal Deputy (1983–86) under Prosecuting Attorney William Griffies and then senior criminal prosecutor and head of the appeals unit (1986–94) under Prosecuting Attorney John Ladenburg. In 1994 she moved into the civil division of the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She worked there for six years on a variety of civil topics, including annexations, incorporations, land use, contracts, bankruptcy, elder care, juvenile law, labor law, and privacy issues.
Judge Quinn-Brintnall is a former state bar examination examiner in criminal procedure and evidence. She is a current member of the state Board for Judicial Administration, WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee, and The Hon. Robert J. Bryan Inns of Court. She judges Mock Trial competitions for the YMCA and law schools, and she enjoys speaking on appellate practice issues at continuing legal education seminars. At the national level, she works with the Council of Chief Judges and chairs its Education Committee.
Active in community affairs, Chris serves on the boards of the Emergency Food Network, Werlin Reading Teams, and Tacoma Youth Symphony. She supports the Christian Brotherhood Academy and serves on its advisory committee. She recently completed a three-year term on the vestry of St. Matthew Episcopal Church. She has been a volunteer reading tutor in the Tacoma public schools for five years. For relaxation, she plays flute and piano.
Judge Quinn-Brintnall has two grown sons, Lincoln and Collin Quinn-Brintnall. Her husband, Matt Temmel, works for Pierce County as Performance Audit Coordinator. His sons are Mark and Dominic Temmel.