Judge Jarmon with her mom and mentor, the late Julie Zarelli, a long time educator in the Seattle Public School system.
Where I come from
Judge Andrea Samonica Jarmon was born in Macon, Georgia - red dirt and country roads. She came to Washington as a teenager after her birth mother divorced her father, ending their long abusive relationship. Unfortunately, like many victims of domestic violence, her mother's next partner was also abusive. Like many of our homeless youth today, as a youth, Judge Jarmon had to seek safety and shelter through public transportation, the generosity of strangers, and foster homes. She was aided by the resources of group homes like those provided by Friends of Youth and United Indian's Labateya. Along her path she met several incredible women who inspired and encouraged her to move beyond her circumstances. Among those women was the late Julie Zarelli (Ms. Zee), a Seattle high school counselor who became not only a friend to her, but also a life coach, mentor, and the woman that she would come to call mother. Not only was Ms. Zee instrumental in Judge Jarmon's completion of high school, but she guided Judge Jarmon through undergraduate and law school. Judge Jarmon speaks often how how Ms. Zee modeled for Judge Jarmon in both philosophy and practice what it means to care about people, to create opportunities for others, and to serve with no other purpose than to advance good in the world. That is precisely why those have been the values that Judge Jarmon has carried with her throughout her education and throughout her legal career.
“Against the odds, single mother makes progress towards dreams.” Seattle Post Intelligencer, February 16, 1997. (Featured in news article as Andrea S. Harris)
Attorney Andrea S. Jarmon and her daughter Zipporah J. Jarmon volunteering at the King County Bar Association's neighborhood legal clinic. Judge Jarmon volunteered from 2012 to 2021.
A thriving career
Judge Jarmon has worked as an Assistant City Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Seattle City Attorney's Office; as a City Prosecutor for the City of Auburn; and as an Assistant Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General's Officer, where she began in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, prosecuting the financial exploitation and physical abuse of Medicaid patients and then worked in the Sexually Violent Predator and L&I Units. She has also practiced in the criminal field as a Defense Attorney representing individuals accused of crimes at the misdemeanor and felony level. She operated a private law office, where she represented parents and children in dependency and termination proceedings; practiced family law, and supported paralegal students in training with externship opportunities. Prior to election to the King County Bench in November of 2022, Judge Jarmon worked as an Appeals Judge with the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, where she presided over proceedings involving workers compensation and employee injury cases. Valuing the educational experience she had as a running start student at Seattle Central, she taught at Tacoma Community College and Green River Community College.
In 2015, Attorney Andrea S. Jarmon was appointed to the Washington State Bar Associations Board of Governors.
Judge Jarmon understands what it means to be human centered and trauma informed.
Representation Matters
Having personally experienced the vulnerability and challenges of navigating the complicated court systems without a lawyer, Judge Jarmon understands the importance of making sure that each person who comes before the Court is given an opportunity to be heard; have the process respectfully explained; and to be treated with fairness and dignity. Judge Jarmon believes it is important for a judicial officer to be prepared, patient, compassionate, and sincere and should strive to issue decisions that are grounded in the law, with a focus on equity, access, and justice. Her own life experiences have shaped her belief that our courts must be accessible, accountable, trauma-informed, and human-centered. As your judge, Judge Jarmon has reduced her calendar dockets to allow for more meaningful hearings, streamlined pre-trial hearing calendars, expanded the Court’s community engagement efforts, and created civic engagement programs to help introduce young people to careers in the law.
Because people who access the Court must sometimes come with children, Judge Jarmon created an area in the courtroom for children to play quietly.
Judge Jarmon in the Community
Presenting at the Black Law Student Association and Seattle University's Access to Justice Institute's Social Justice Monday.
Participating in a Gratitude Award Ceremony to honor community leaders and social justice agents.
Judge Jarmon with newly sworn in Attorney Ayoub Ahmed.
Judge Jarmon pictured with participants and attendees at the 2024 Justice Charles Z. Smith Youth and Law Forum.
Sharing her personal journey as a survivor of violence at ELAP's 2026 Breakfast for Justice. Watch here: youtu.be/VuZiwgoitYE.
Judge Jarmon swearing in Representative Osman Salahuddin at a Community Swearing In Ceremony.
Judge Jarmon with the King County District Court booth at MHS Day of Dignity 2026.
Modeling Possibilities organized by Judge Wiggs and Judge Jarmon, and sponsored by the Ummah Bar Association.
