Clark County’s Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has formally withdrawn its request to disqualify Superior Court Judge Tsering Cornell from presiding over violent and sexual offense cases. The move follows challenges from defense attorneys raising questions about whether such a blanket disqualification scheme would violate the Washington State Constitution’s separation of powers protections.

In January 2026, deputy prosecutors sought to sideline Judge Cornell from dozens of criminal cases involving allegations of serious violence or sexual misconduct, arguing her safety or impartiality might be compromised. However, defense attorneys swiftly raised constitutional objections, asserting that automatically disqualifying a judge based on case type exceeded prosecutorial authority and risked undermining judicial independence. These objections highlighted potential violations of the state’s statutory structure governing judicial assignments and recusal procedures.

On February 2, 2026, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office withdrew the disqualification requests entirely, effectively conceding to the concerns raised by defense counsel. The withdrawal restores the status quo, allowing Judge Cornell to continue overseeing serious criminal matters unless disqualified under existing legal standards like individualized conflict or prejudice.

Why this matters: Judge Cornell serves in Department 10 at the Clark County Superior Court, a position she’s held since her appointment by Gov. Inslee in 2022. She handles a wide range of felony and civil matters including violent and sexual offense cases. The previous attempt to disqualify her en masse risked congesting court calendars, delaying proceedings, and potentially eroding public confidence in the impartial administration of justice.

The withdrawal reflects a reassertion of procedural norms—retaining case-by-case review of judicial disqualification and avoiding sweeping reassignments premised on prosecutorial preference rather than demonstrable cause.

Public records and court dockets show Judge Cornell presiding over multiple cases on February 2. Her continued presence across violent and sexual offense prosecutions underscores the practical impact of the withdrawal in maintaining court function and preserving judicial capacity. The office’s retreat may also discourage future efforts to bypass established recusal frameworks via blanket motions.

Editor’s note: We reached out to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for comment but received no response by publication time.

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