*Photo Credit Elizabeth Johnson
Serving the Community
Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Doris Walkins is running for Pierce County Superior Court Judge, Department 9. With a background as a Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner, she has handled a wide range of cases, including family law, juvenile criminal law, civil protection orders, real estate disputes, unlawful detainers, probate matters, and involuntary commitment hearings for vulnerable community members.
Before her tenure as a commissioner, Doris ran her own law firm, Doris M. Walkins, Attorney at Law, PLLC, for over 16 years. In her practice, she covered various areas, including family law, juvenile law, dependency law, adoptions, domestic violence protection orders, misdemeanor criminal defense, and estate planning, including motions and trial practice. Additionally, she has served over 13 years as a Title 26 guardian ad litem, conducting numerous parenting investigations in Pierce County and advocating for families' safety and unity.
Doris's legal expertise extends to federal and tribal courts. She was admitted to the Federal Bar for the Western District Court and the Puyallup Tribal Bar. In tribal court, she handled dependency, family, and criminal law matters, as well as conducted parenting investigations for other tribal courts. She was also one of a handful of attorneys contracting with Teamsters Delta Legal Fund to provide no to low cost legal services to Teamsters Longshoreman, in Pierce County.
Doris's connection to the community runs deep, having graduated from Pierce College in Lakewood, WA (2001), the University of Washington, Tacoma (2002), and Seattle University School of Law (2006). As a former military dependent and resident of what was once Fort Lewis (now JBLM), she intimately understands the unique challenges military families face in the legal system. Her diversity of experiences lends to fostering a strong bond with the community.
Doris's commitment to justice extends beyond her legal career. Before becoming an attorney, she worked as an advocate for domestic violence survivors at the YWCA of Tacoma and Pierce County Women's Support Shelter. This firsthand experience showed her the profound impact a strong judicial response can have on the lives of survivors and their families, as well as the benefits of therapeutic services for both victims and alleged perpetrators.
Commissioner Walkins is committed to being a judge who will continue to embody the principles of justice and fairness, with our community's health, safety, and well-being as her top priority.
United By A Common Goal
Doris is staunchly committed to serving our community and contributing to its growth. She understands the importance of building a solid network and has always been an active community member.
Doris has been a strong advocate for the LGBTQ community, hosting a booth at Tacoma's annual PrideFest. Her aim was to assist community members in navigating the legal system, demonstrating her commitment to social justice. She has also volunteered for the Pierce County Minority Bar Association, serving as the Board Secretary and contributing to their annual Youth and Law Forum. This program provides young people with intervention and informational services about the legal process.
Doris's commitment to public service is evident in her provision of pro bono and low-cost legal services to hundreds of clients throughout her career. Her dedication to community service in the Pierce County region is unwavering, and she is determined to continue this involvement once elected.
Commissioner Walkins has also volunteered with the University of Washington, Tacoma's Legal Pathways program. This mentorship program pairs legal professionals with UWT students to encourage historically underserved populations to pursue careers in law.
Furthermore, Doris staunchly supports our therapeutic courts and community therapeutic service providers. Having seen firsthand the positive impact therapy, treatment, and rehabilitation can have on our community members, putting them on the path toward growth and productivity, she believes in incorporating these vital services into litigants' cases whenever applicable.
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