Vancouver, Wash. – Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Tsering Cornell to the Clark County Superior Court. Cornell replaces Judge Scott Collier, who retires June 30. 

Cornell has served as Assistant Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Vancouver office since 2018 representing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, as well as Clark College, Lower Columbia College and the Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss/School for the Deaf. Before joining the Attorney General’s Vancouver office, Cornell worked for the Attorney General and the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia. Her legal career began with Cooley LLP, advising corporate clients.

Cornell is an active community member. She serves as a board member of the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program, and volunteers with the Clark County Food Bank and YMCA youth mock trial program. She has been a member of the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association since 2000. Cornell attended K-12 school in Clark County.

Cornell earned her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree from Alliant International University. She earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Clark County's Superior Court has ten elected judges, three full-time judicially appointed court commissioners and one part-time commissioner. The Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction. It is the trial court for all felonies and civil suits pursuant to RCW 2.08.010. Superior Court also has jurisdiction in adoption, probate, competency, divorce and juvenile cases. In addition, it hears appeals from District Court decisions. 

Cornell’s first day as Superior Court Judge will be Friday, July 1.