Hon. Donald Horowitz

Arbitrator, Mediator, Private Judge

• Commercial
• Contracts
• Professional Negligence
• Securities
• Disability Rights
• Arbitration

WAMS Mediator Certification: 1988

Accomplishments: Judge Horowitz has been engaged in the practice of law since 1960. Immediately following his graduation from law school in 1959, he served as Law Clerk to Justice Harry Ellsworth Foster at the Supreme Court of Washington. Judge Horowitz was an associate with Foster & Foster in Olympia, Washington between 1961 and 1963 and a partner in the Seattle firm of Farris, Bangs & Horowitz from 1963 to 1969. He joined and became a partner in the Levinson Friedman firm in Seattle after serving on the King County Superior Court bench from 1974 to 1977. Following his retirement from active practice in 1991, Judge Horowitz became Of Counsel to the Seattle firm of DeFunis & Balint.

Since 1977, his areas of emphasis have been in tort, securities, business, commercial and general civil litigation, negotiation, and dispute resolution. His securities experience includes representation of both claimants and securities dealers.

Judge Horowitz has been an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and an adjunct professor of Civil Trial Practice and Consumer Protection at Seattle University School of Law. He is currently a mediator for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and a judge pro tem and arbitrator for King County Superior Court. He is admitted to practice law before the United States District courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington.

Judge Horowitz has been involved in numerous public service activities. He has been a consultant to the Governor’s task force on Decision Making in Corrections, Jails and Detention Facilities. He has been a Member of the Governor’s Advisory Counsel for Drug Abuse Prevention, and has been involved with numerous organizations devoted to helping handicapped citizens in Washington, including being the Founder of the Central Area Mental Health Center, Inc. Judge Horowitz is also involved with the Access to Justice Technology Bill of Rights project, a committee of the Washington State Bar Association.

Education: USA&M Mediator Training, 1988; WAMS Advanced Mediator Training, 1998, 1999; Yale Law School, LLB, 1959; Columbia University, BA, 1956.

Affiliations: Washington Arbitration & Mediation Service, Washington State Bar Association; King County Bar Association; International Bar Association.