Meet Judge Stevens
David Stevens y Perez (David Stevens) is a husband, father, grandfather, Superior Court Judge, and Navy Veteran.
Judicial Experience:
In November of 2023, Judge David Stevens was overwhelmingly elected to Mason County Superior Court. He defeated the incumbent who had been appointed by then-Governor Jay Inslee. In 2024, he was re-elected.
Judge David Stevens is concerned that governors have appointed the vast majority of Washington State Superior Court Judges, State Appellate Court Judges, and Washington State Supreme Court Justices. He believes that gubernatorial appointment leads to ideological rulings and judicial overreach.
Experience:
After graduating from high school, David joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Camden AOE-2 in Bremerton, Washington as a Fire Controlman Second Class (E-5). During his service, he saw what true lack of opportunity looks like, and learned firsthand why America is the greatest country in the world. During his service, he was awarded two Good Conduct Medals, a Meritorious Unit Citation, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). The AFEM was for service during Operation Earnest Will. After finishing his Navy enlistment, David received an Honorable Discharge. The Navy taught him self-discipline and how to serve with honor.
Using the Veteran’s Education Assistance Program, he went to the University of Washington and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree focusing on Race and Ethnic Relations. He was the first in his extended family to get a college degree. While getting his college degree was one of his and his parents' dreams, the most important thing he did at UW was meet his future wife, Pamela Zierdt. Pam has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from the University of Washington and is also an honorably-discharged Navy Veteran.
After graduating from UW, David worked for the Department of Housing and Urban Development as Federal Civil Rights Investigator at the Fair Housing Enforcement Center in Seattle. He was originally hired under the Outstanding Scholar Program. He made sure that people weren’t denied housing because of race, religion, familial status, or disability. Working at HUD gave him a passion for fighting for what’s right.
David then went to the University of Washington School of Law. He did well and was awarded the Mary Ellen Krug Scholarship for the law student showing exceptional promise in litigation. UW Law knew that David would be a trial attorney.
After graduating, David went on to be the Chief Public Defender for the Colville Confederated Tribes, a Senior Deputy Prosecutor for the Mason County Prosecutor's Office, a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (federal prosecutor) in the Eastern District of California, an International Prosecutor in Prishtina, Kosovo, and a Justice Advisor in Afghanistan.
You can learn more about Judge Stevens’ career at his LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/david-stevens-y-perez
Family:
Judge Stevens has had five children and ten grandchildren.
David and his wife are members of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Shelton.
Community Service:
Skookum Rotary (Shelton, WA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Larry Godwin Post 1694, 40et8 Voiture 135 Veteran’s Club, and Yesteryear Car Club. They are active in several other philanthropic organizations.