September 25, 2025

Cowlitz County Superior Court

Karmy

Gov. Bob Ferguson has appointed current Cowlitz County Superior Court Commissioner Jill Karmy to the position of Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge. Karmy's appointment, effective Nov. 1, fills the position that Judge Marilyn K. Haan's resignation will vacate. Karmy is a career public servant with more than two decades of legal experience as a superior court commissioner, civil attorney and prosecutor. She has served more than three years in her current role as Cowlitz County Superior Court Commissioner in Kelso, where she presides over a wide range of civil and criminal dockets.

Karmy runs a solo-practice law firm, where she has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of cases and claims. She also serves as a contract prosecutor for the cities of Battle Ground, Ridgefield and La Center, handling criminal prosecution and city code enforcement matters. Earlier in her career, Karmy spent several years as a partner at Parham, Hall & Karmy in Longview. She also served as an associate attorney at several firms in and around the Portland area. She served on the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors from 2014-2017, including one year as the state bar treasurer, representing Southwest Washington's Congressional District 3. Karmy earned her bachelor's degree from Pacific Union College and her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School.