"The Robing Room: WA State Judges

Hon. Bonnie Canada-Thurston	See Rating Details
Commissioner Superior Court
King County	See Comments

Attorney Average Rating: 2.2 - 4 rating(s) Non-Attorney Average Rating: 2.0 - 15 rating(s)	Please send me alerts on this judge E-mail Address:

Add your own rating

E-Mail Address ()

* *

Confirm E-mail Address

* * *

Zip

Occupation

Add a comment only

Only items marked with (*) are averaged into the displayed overall rating.

General Rating Criteria

* Temperament		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness		(1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation		(1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality		(1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge		(1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling		(1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)

Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation		(1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail		(1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage		(1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)

Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation		(1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions		(1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination		(1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)

Comments

Please type what you see below:

Not an even number!

What others have said about Hon. Bonnie Canada-Thurston

Comments

Other

Comment #: WA1886
Rating:8.0

Comments:
Maintains good control of courtroom. Very charismatic, should probably get her own TV show.

Other

Comment #: WA1569
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Reason she is not loosing her job is she is african american. I did try to reprimand her in front of the commission and they would not do a thing. Last time she was reprimanded she took a vacation going to las vegas for a class and got a neat little participation award.

Other

Comment #: WA1563
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is not interested in justice, just her own personal opinions.

Other

Comment #: WA1495
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Don’t have a lot to say here other than the fact that this judge told my Dad (who’s fighting for custody for my baby brother who is being neglected by his mother) that he doesn’t know anything about “standing in line at children’s hospital” even though I (his daughter) had to have chemo for three years starting at the age of 2 so I guess that goes to show how unprofessional this person is.

Other

Comment #: WA1432
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I honestly don't think I have ever seen a commissioner as incompetent as this woman. Her failure to properly inspect evidence and her ability to communicate with people is horrific. The fact that she is allowed on the bench at all is shocking. King County District Court should be embarrassed

Other

Comment #: WA1429
Rating:9.0

Comments:
Commissioner Canada-Thurston is an african american woman and i wonder if there are potential cultural differences that might effect people's perceptions of her conduct. I personally don't think that interrupting and yelling prevent someone from being fair or ethical in their decisions. Also her behavior didn't see more forceful or intimidating than Commissioner Palmunchuk (sp?)?? other than that she seemed very concerned with making a fair choice i can't say more about her.

Other

Comment #: WA1401
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I am an advocate (and female) and sat in on a case where a respondent had a brain tumor and his ex-wife lied through her teeth about domestic violence and financial matters. These cases are based on heresay and are always against the men. People are denied due process and their rights are taken away with the flip of a pen. The system needs to be drastically changed. Judge Thurston makes a mockery of civil rights.

Other

Comment #: WA1390
Rating:1.0

Comments:
I couldn't believe how this commissioner rules. She doesn't judge on cases based on the case, she judges like she's the lawyer for which ever side is the woman. I watcher her all morning make arguments for the woman's side and basically rule in her own favor. She makes arguments for the woman's side the women and lawyers didn't even make. She needs to be taken off the bench.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1383
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She was and arrogant, angry, contentious woman who clearly has a chip on her shoulder, and is a power junkie. She got testy when my attorney objected to the way she stated what she thought were the facts. She dressed my atty down, attacked him, and told him to stop talking and immediately ruled against us w/o allowing our side to be heard. I watched the next case and she was similar. Unprofessional! Amazing that people like her are in such positions of power.

Other

Comment #: WA1243
Rating:10.0

Comments:
Honestly, I thought she was really fair. I appriciate the fact that she does not take any bs. She ordered a domestic violence assesment because she felt that the case was so complex she wanted to bring in expert social workers. It would have been nice to have gotten my protection order right then and there, but she wanted to carefully evaluate the situation. Much respect.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1216
Rating:1.0

Comments:
See comment written regarding a dismal of a 5 year protection order and the belief that Bonnie Canada-Thurston should be removed from the bench and is dangerous. A "0" rating if possible.

Litigant

Comment #: WA1214
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
Bonnie Canada-Thurston should be removed from the bench. I went in to renew my protection order that I have successfully renewed 5 times prior that protects my daughter and I from her father. He is a very abusive man; beatings, slapping, hitting and rape. Most of it was documented by the police and reports were submitted to the court. Bonnie ruled that because my ex had completed batterer's treatment, it was time to dismiss. Even though a violation had occurred 5 months prior and he had discovered my confidential
address. Big No No taught in treatment and I think would be a red flag to the court. But no. Bonnie is horrible. I am so frightened. My ex has left 7 messages after 5 years of legal safeguards
in place. It is Saturday and the ruling was made yesterday. Bonnie needs to be more thoughtful of a victims situation, educate herself about the cycle of DV violence and the profile of an abuser. She would recognize that in this case, DV treatment was not effective and she would have continued the protection of a mother and her child She is dangerous.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA1107
Rating:4.6

Comments:
We liked her. She chastised the hot shot attorney who kept butting in. She let my daughter talk without interrupting. Everyone in the case walked out feeling good (except the rude attorney). She speaks her mind but does it without seeming mean like some commissioners. I like that. She actually seemed to care about our case.

Other

Comment #: WA987
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This judge is rude, loud, ghetto, and obnoxious. Very unprofessional. She cuts you off when you are speaking and does not listen to evidence. She refused to add my children to a no contact order against their father even though I have had on for the last 13 years he shot at me and my children and just recently left a voicemail on my sons phone threatening to beat him up but she refused to listen this judge needs to be removed from the bench she clearly does not like her job by the way she treats any and everyone in her courtroom. Judges like her always end up on the news because someone was either hurt or killed by someone she let by because she was to lazy to check the facts and see that the person is a violent individual

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: WA982
Rating:2.0

Comments:
This is one of the worst family law commissioners in King County. She has been reprimanded for her conduct in court several times, yet continues to have tirades against attorneys and litigants. She just doesn't seem to have kept up with the law, or she puts her own twist on it, and many attorneys walk out of the courtroom wondering what just happened. And that means that good attorneys, with solid cases end up with terrible rulings. I have had a few terrible rulings, and a few good rulings. I can never tell what commissioner I will face on any day. Some days she seems to have carefully considered the evidence, and rules properly, and others she seems to have drawn a conclusion that isn't supported by the facts, and discusses facts or issues that were not even raised in the pleadings, at least in my experience and from comments other attorneys have made when I was in the courtroom.

She seems burned out, and I think she should consider retiring, because her attitude is only getting worse with time. She didn't used to be this way even six years ago, but she just doesn't seem to really think about the cases. Almost like "don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is already made up".

Other

Comment #: WA961
Rating:1.0

Comments:
my nightmare started june 20, 2014. wow is all I can muster she is a trip. she only cares about getting the calander cleared instead of doing whats right they fill her calander up so she can push um through. I am family law matters should be heard with more time per side not in the hustle and bustle of all the other legal matters to be heard. but she finally said she doesn't want to hear my case any more so I wont have to deal with her bs no more I need a judge who is neutral.

Other

Comment #: WA896
Rating:1.0

Comments:
This "judge" was very rude both times i encountered her, and when i was saying my statement, she butted in and kept talking to the Criminally violent,meth & heroin dealing, career criminal roommate/ who said in two sentences next to eachother, " im secretive about everything" and two inches lower says, "talks alot about suicide", and wouldn't let me finish my statement, so i raise my hand and she motions for me to lower it and says,"i can see you two need to be apart, im granting this motion for protection." I have no criminal history, absolutely nothing, am an Honorably served Navy Veteran, and she gave the benefit of the doubt to the CAREER CRIMINAL. And when he started to say i was never a threat and doesn't feel i am now, she said, " sir, do you want to re-read your statement? " Actually telling him hes screwing up, but it still went through! I feel a HUGE injustice has been done in my case and against my name, and feel this judge should be listened to, and how she talks to EVERYBODY, not just respondants, EVERYBODY. This was my first dealings with the legal system, and i am shocked at what can happen. With no proof, quite the contrary, i had proof against it, but i couldn't tell it. She wouldn't let me say my case. It was no sir, next, i got a long day. My second time i saw her, the only thing she said was "you can go" ,i said "your honor, may i ask you a quick question? " she said, "nope, sorry, cant entertain you today" Wow, i just waited here, on false allegations, he didnt show, i just wanted to know how to get this off my record, but nope, she just couldn't be bothered. She NEEDS to be investigated, really.

Other

Comment #: WA845
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She has proven to be a terrible representation of our legal system. She is not thorough, does not actually do the pre-reading and makes snap decisions ignoring the facts.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA827
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
my wife lied in a hearing, saying my son had pnuemonia and I wouldn't take him to the doctor. I brought medical records showing that my son had pnuemonia 2 months after I was restrained from taking care of him and when he was with his mom. Commissioner ranted and raged all around the facts and ruled that my wife didn't lie. a big joke, criminal abduction of children from their parents by unconstitutional use of bogus protection/restraint orders.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: WA779
Rating:1.0

Comments:
She is awful. She does not read the documentation and hands out decisions without any basis for making them. In my divorce case, she allowed unsupervised visits during the dissolution. When it went to trial the judge ordered psych evaluation and he was determined to have major problems-now he can only have supervised visits. She made the wrong call and my children could have been hurt.

Other

Comment #: WA759
Rating:1.0

Comments:
Me and my two sons have a protection order against the boys biological father whom the boys have not seen in five years. The protection order is very detailed, where I state he held a butcher knife to my face, locked me in a closet, got punched in the face etc. for over a year. Every year I renew my protection order. This year 5/19/14 while in court to renew Jonathan Whitehead, the father served me with a parenting plan proposal, he lied stating there are no conflicts or protection order. I responded appropriately and even wrote the protection order case # in my response and waited for a court date. I was never served any notice of hearings and commissioner Bonnie Canada-Thurston decided to grant him his parenting plan with out me there to defend myself. She granted a convicted felon 2 weeks vacation, every other weekend, and even sole decision making on religion, education, and non emergency health care. He was ordered to complete dv treatment and parenting classes at protection hearing. He never completed the courses. I had to file a motion to vacate order and must wait 14 days to properly serve Jonathan Whitehead. I have notified the shoreline police of this commissioners negligence because Jon has already called my husband stating to give him the children this Friday. This is incredibly stressful to me. Bonnie Canada-Thurston from King County Superior court is a threat to society and should be exposed. Case number 14-3-03191-6 SEA for parenting plan case # 11-2-38240-1 SEA for protection order. Thank you, Rose Panganiban 206 683 2256