In mid-April, in anticipation of Judge Brian D. Lynch’s retirement, the Court will begin reassigning Judge Lynch’s cases. Details of the case reassignments, and information about the assignment of newly filed cases, are set out in the Court’s General Order 2024-1.

Note: The dates listed in the Order and below are subject to change due to the demands of our CM/ECF System. The Court will continue to update this information. Reassignment will be reflected on the case docket. Prior to formal reassignment, matters should continue to be set in front of the currently assigned judge. Contact chambers if there are questions regarding calendaring.

“Vancouver Cases” refers to those cases where the debtor’s county of residence/principal place of business or assets is Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, Skamania, or Wahkiakum County. “Tacoma Cases” refers to those cases where the debtor’s county of residence/principal place of business or assets is Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pierce, or Thurston County.

Judge Lynch’s pending Vancouver Cases will be reassigned to Judge Mary Jo Heston on or about April 30, 2024.

Judge Lynch’s pending Tacoma Chapter 7 cases and Chapter 13 cases, and their related adversary proceedings, if any, will be reassigned to Judge Heston and Judge Timothy Dore. New Chapter 13 Tacoma cases (those filed April 14, 2024, or later) will be assigned to Judges Heston and Dore. New Chapter 7 Tacoma Cases (those filed May 24, 2024, or later) will be assigned to Judges Heston and Dore.

Judge Lynch’s Chapter 11 cases will be reassigned to Judge Heston as needed, based upon the scheduling dictates of the individual case.