Judge Jeffrey J. Jahns
Jeffrey J. Jahns was appointed to the Kitsap County District Court in 2009, and elected in 2010, 2014, and 2018. Judge Jahns was raised in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1978, and from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1981. Judge Jahns was a criminal defense attorney in private practice from 1981 to 1994. He joined the Kitsap County Prosecutor's Office in 1995 as a chief deputy prosecutor where he served until his appointment to the bench.
Judge Jahns received the 1995 Kitsap County Bar Association Professionalism Award for his work as a criminal defense attorney. In 2004, he received the Washington State Bar Association Professionalism Award for his work as a prosecutor. Judge Jahns was named a "Super Lawyer" several times by Washington Law & Politics.
Judge Jahns has authored many professional articles and publications. His publication, TRAFFIC STOPS IN WASHINGTON STATE BENCH BOOK (Administrative Office of the Courts May 2013), is a comprehensive textbook on Washington search and seizure law from a traffic stop perspective.
Judge Jahns served on the editorial board for the DUI BENCH BOOK (Administrative Office of the Courts October 2013), authoring three chapters for the treatise. Additionally, his 2008 prosecutorial ethics and professionalism training manual, THE QUEST FOR JUSTICE (3rd ed.), continues to be a resource for criminal law practitioners and judges.
Judge Jahns served as Dean for the 2014 Washington Judicial College, a mandatory one week conference all new Washington judges are required to attend. He has also served as a member of the District and Municipal Court Judges Association's Board of Governors.
Judge Jahns has been married to his wife Therese since 1981. They have two adult daughters.