About.

Hon. Kim Prochnau (Ret.) served on the King County Superior Court Bench- first as a Court Commissioner (on both the Family Law Motions and Probate/TEDRA calendars ) and later as a Superior Court Judge before retiring in 2015.  Since then she has worked as a mediator and arbitrator for the JAMS program and the King County Settlement Now program.  Judge Prochnau had a diverse practice as a lawyer with a special emphasis on family law.  She started her legal career as a paralegal serving the needs of Senior Citizens and persons with disabilities.

She has a deep understanding of family, estate, probate and TEDRA law  due to her experience on the bench and as an attorney and also based on her work on key pieces of family law and TEDRA litigation on behalf of the Washington State Bar Family Law Section and later on behalf of the Superior Court Judges Association.  

Judge Prochnau is praised for being patient, listening actively, and being very hard-working- all qualities that help in achieving resolution through mediation and arbitration.  

Judge Prochnau has been married to her husband, Arnie, for over 40 years.  They have two adult children and two grandchildren.   She enjoys camping, travel, and books.  

ADR Experience and Education

Judge Prochnau:

• Served as a mediator and arbitrator for JAMS from 2017 to 2019. 
• Served as a mediator for the King County Volunteer Settlement family law program and for the King County Juvenile Court. 
• Conducted settlement conferences throughout her career.
• Received training from the JAMS ADR training program, as well as mediation training from King County Dispute Resolution Center.

Legal Experience and Education

Judge Prochnau began her career on the King County Superior Court Bench first as a Family Law Commissioner, hearing all types of divorce and family law matters, and then on the Ex Parte/Probate Calendar.

Before being appointed to the bench, Judge Prochnau practiced law for Evergreen Legal Services and  in her own private practice, where she emphasized family law.  
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Judge Prochnau worked as a paralegal assisting the disabled and Senior Citizens for Evergreen Legal Services before graduating from the University of Puget Sound School of Law.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. 

Judge Prochnau served on the King County Superior Court bench for over twenty years first as a family law and ex parte/probate commissioner and later as a Superior Court Judge.

Honors, Professional Activities, and Memberships 

• Recipient of Washington State Supreme Court Champion of Justice Award
• Recognized as Judge of the Year by Washington Women Lawyers , King County Chapter and WSBA Family Law Section
• King County Elder Law Section Award
• Chair, WSBA Family Law Section
• Chair, Superior Court Judges Association Civil Law and Rules Committee
• Chair, Supreme Court Professional Guardian Board
• Chair, King County Bench-Bar Task Force (Redrafted King County Family Law Rules)
• Co-Chair, King County Unified Family Court Committee
• Co-Chair, WSBA  Domestic Relations Committee
• Editor, King County Probate and TEDRA Manual
• Lecturer, Washington State Judicial College, Family, Probate and TEDRA law