Judge Darrel R. Ellis: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Darrel R. Ellis is a judge for the Upper Kittitas County District Court in Washington. He joined the bench in 1997.

Over the course of his judicial career, Ellis instituted a cooperative program with the Lower Kittitas County District Court that helped reduce prisoner transportation and police overtime as well as installed a computer system that improved communication between the District Court and other State agencies.

Ellis received a B.A. at Walla Walla College in 1969. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Idaho College of Law in 1972.

Prior to joining the bench, Ellis was an attorney with Cone, Gilreath, Ellis & Cole and acted as a part-time attorney and prosecutor for the City of Cle Elum (1974 to 1996) and the Town of South Cle Elum (1974 to 1996). Ellis had worked as a private practice attorney in Kittitas County since 1972.

He was a former president of the Kittitas County Bar Association, the Cle Elum Kiwanis, and the Cle Elum Chamber of Commerce. Ellis was a board member of the Kittitas County United Way, Kittitas County Hospital Foundation, and Elmview Foundation. He also spent time as a volunteer for Kittitas County Legal Services, Inc.

He received the William O. Douglas Award from the Washington State Association for Justice in 2017.

Away from the bench, Ellis enjoys golf, racquetball, and skiing.