April 3, 2025

King County Superior Court

Gov. Bob Ferguson has appointed Benjamin Santos to the King County Superior Court, his first judicial appointment since taking office in January. Santos' appointment fills the position being vacated by Judge Annette Messitt, who resigned from the bench March 31. Santos has more than two decades of experience as a senior deputy prosecutor in King County. At the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Santos has led the Misdemeanor and Special Assault units and currently serves as assistant chief deputy in the Juvenile Division. Prior to earning his law degree, Santos advocated for marginalized residents in Seattle's Chinatown-International District, where he helped mitigate the impacts of development projects. Santos has prosecuted a broad range of cases, and has collaborated with partners in the justice system to address the statewide sexual assault kit backlog and explore evidence-based strategies for reducing juvenile recidivism. Santos started his legal career as an intern with the Public Defender's Service and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. He served as a law clerk for current Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu when she served on the King County Superior Court. Santos also worked for a year as a consultant to the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development. He earned his law degree from American University in Washington, D.C.