Kim Gordon, Partner

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Kim Gordon is a stellar advocate who provides the highest quality representation to people in federal, state, and misdemeanor courts. Her satisfied clients refer her to friends and loved ones. Lawyers (be they judges, prosecutors, or fellow defense attorneys) trust her to represent family members in need of counsel. State and national criminal defense and justice advocacy organizations regularly select her for leadership roles. Washington's governor and legislators have sought out her input – as the representative of the criminal defense bar – when considering major criminal justice system reform. Colleagues seek her advice in their difficult cases. Colleagues also give her outstanding reviews when she trains at local and national continuing legal education seminars. She is known for her decades of expertise, hard work, creative thinking, powerful advocacy, deep compassion and respect for her clients, and love of her job. 

In 2011, Kim was awarded the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' “President's Award,” for distinguished service to the highest traditions of the criminal defense bar. She has also served as the organization's elected president. She has been continually recognized since 2012 as a “Super Lawyer” and one of the “Top Women Attorneys in Washington.” 

In 2008, Kim and Jason formed Gordon & Saunders, PLLC. Some of her cases are high-profile, receiving attention on a local, national, or even international stage. While Kim is capable of successfully defending such publicly-litigated matters, many of her clients remain unknown, their lives uninterrupted by criminal charges or conviction. In every case, Kim continues to give her clients comfort in uncertain times, the support and communication needed to make informed and thoughtful decisions, confidence that she will outwork and outperform the most skilled opponents, and certainty that she will give every client the clearest chance at the best possible outcome. As a former client noted: 

Kimberly Gordon saves lives. Period. … Very simply, we could not recommend Kimberly Gordon more highly.

Kim brought her lifelong passion for justice to Gordon & Saunders. In college, Kim led human rights and anti-death penalty advocacy efforts. She began criminal defense work while she was a student at Tulane University School of Law. As a lawyer at the Washington Appellate Project, she handled the appeals for hundreds of adult and juvenile felony clients and argued numerous cases in the State of Washington's Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Kim then moved to trial work with The Defender Association, where she handled hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases, including complex frauds, sex assault allegations, murder cases. She also trained and supervised young lawyers in the Misdemeanor Division.

Before opening her own firm, Kim worked in the criminal defense division at Schroeter, Goldmark and Bender, where she successfully represented juveniles and adults. In this time, she was selected to join the Criminal Justice Act attorney panel where she represented clients in federal court. In her last case with the firm, the jury acquitted her client of murder and determined that the State must reimburse him for legal expenses and lost wages. 

Kim is available to bring her passion and commitment to criminal defense work in all types of serious matters, including at the trial court, appellate, or post-conviction levels, both in state and federal courts. Kim also successfully represents clients in quasi-criminal cases, such as those involving student conduct violations and protection orders. 

Education

• Tulane Law School, J.D., 1995
• National Criminal Defense College 2002
• Hastings College, B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1992

Bar Admissions

• Washington State
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
• 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional and Civic Involvement

• Member (twice appointed by Gov. Inslee) of the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission. 
• Member (appointed by Gov. Inslee) of Washington State's Justice Reinvestment Task Force (2014-15).
• Member, Criminal Justice Act Standing Committee for the Western District of Washington (2013-18). 
• President, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2012-13)
• Served on the Criminal Rules Review Committee for the Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington (2013).
• Independent Consultant reviewing reform of the public defense system in Grant County, Washington. 
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, Washington Defender Association
• Faculty, National Legal Aid and Defender Association National Appellate Advocacy Institute
• Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy's 2007 and 2008 Northwest Trial Advocacy Programs
• Instructor of domestic violence defense for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.
• Lecturer on numerous topics for Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Washington Defender Association
• Trainer on trial advocacy for Washington's Office of Public Defense

Publications

• “A Call to Arms,” Washington Criminal Defense, (2014)
• "Sex Offenses: Higher Sentences, New Crimes and New Restrictions." Washington Criminal Defense, Vol.
• 20, No.2 (May, 2006)
• "Zealous Motion Practice: Representing Your Clients' Causes; Making Lasting Change," Washington Criminal Defense, Vol. 19, No. 4 (November, 2005)