Washington Superior Court Judging

Judge Charles R. Snyder
Whatcom County Superior Court 
311 Grand Avenue, Room 301
Bellingham, WA 98225-4048
(360) 778-5614
csnyder@co.whatcom.wa.us

Charles R. Snyder was first elected to the Whatcom County Superior Court in 2004, having previously served as a Superior Court Commissioner for over 15 years.  Prior to his selection as court commissioner, he was the Whatcom County hearing examiner issuing administrative decisions in land use cases.  He practiced law in Bellingham from 1980 until 1989.

Judge Snyder is a past President of the Superior Court Judges’ Association (SCJA) and is a past chair of its Family and Juvenile Law Committee.  He is past Dean for the Washington State Judicial College. He has also served on the SCJA Education Committee and Legislative Committee.   He is a founder of the Whatcom County Teen Court. Judge Snyder has taught in the paralegal programs at Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College.  He is past President of the Rotary Club of Bellingham and an active member of that club and has served on many boards in Whatcom County, including St. Joseph Hospital, Whatcom Museum Foundation, Sun Community Services and was awarded the Public Servant Peace Builder award by the Whatcom County Dispute Resolution Center and the Nevins Award for Public Legal Education by the Washington Judges Foundation in 2002 for Teen Court.

Judge Snyder presided over the Whatcom County Drug Court from 2005 until February 2017 and helped implement a juvenile drug court while serving as Court Commissioner.

Judge Snyder received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in 1975 and his J.D. from the University of Idaho in 1979.