Judge(Position 1)
Terry Tanner
Terry Tanner started his career in law with the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office. He has also served as the Prosecutor for the Cities of Richland and Pasco. He was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2009. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor in 1988. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Washington, majoring in Business Administration.
Judge(Position 2)
James Bell
James Bell started his legal career with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office. He was in private practice for 19 years, during which he served as a prosecutor for the cities of Richland, West Richland and Pasco. He was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2021. He attended the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law) and earned his Juris Doctor in 1992. He received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University majoring in accounting.
Judge(Position 3)
Dan Kathren
Dan Kathren was in private practice for over 12 years prior to his election as District Court Judge in 2011. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1996. He completed his undergraduate degree from Washington State University with a double major in Political Science and Public Administration.
Judge(Position 4)
John Ziobro
John Ziobro was the Kennewick City attorney from 1999-2007, thereafter he entered the private practice and focused on civil litigation. He was appointed as District Court Judge in 2017. He attended Seattle University School of Law.
Judge(Position 5)
Jennifer Azure
Jennifer (Lampson) Azure was raised in Benton County, beginning her legal career serving as a prosecutor for Franklin County and thereafter prosecuted for several Washington Municipalities. Prior to appointment to the bench, she was in private practice for nearly ten years, focusing on criminal defense and civil/juvenile law. She was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2021. She attended Gonzaga School of Law and Washington State University majoring in English.
Commissioner
Jennifer Johnson
Jennifer Johnson was born and raised in Benton County. She started her legal career with the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office. She also worked for one year as a contract defense attorney for Benton County. For 10 years prior to her current position as District Court Commissioner she worked as a judge pro tempore in Benton and Franklin Counties and Pasco Municipal Court. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a double major in Communications and Latin American Studies. She graduated from Gonzaga Law School in 2007.
