Hon. Regina S. Cahan (Ret.), JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator

Judge Regina S. Cahan (Ret.) joins JAMS following a distinguished and varied legal career, including 14 years on the King County Superior Court bench, 10 years as an employment litigator and 10 years as a criminal prosecutor.

As a jurist, Judge Cahan presided over numerous employment, medical malpractice, personal injury, commercial, dependency and family law trials. Recognized by both the legal community and her peers, Judge Cahan was chosen to chair the King County Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Task Force and the court’s Personnel Committee, and was elected to the court’s Executive Committee. She also served as chief civil judge for two years (2020–2021) and helped steer the court through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The court lead the nation and remained uniquely productive by pioneering the transition to remote civil bench and jury trials.

Committed early to seeking justice and conflict resolution, Judge Cahan earned both a J.D. and a Master of Social Work. Approachable, warm and caring, Judge Cahan listens with compassion and empathy, and is ideally suited to guide parties toward a fair resolution of their legal disputes. She has a reputation for staying on task, being practical and treating all parties kindly and respectfully.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• Conducted numerous settlement conferences over 14 years while serving as a King County Superior Court judge
• Presided over a wide variety of civil (employment, medical malpractice, personal injury, commercial) and family law trials
• Significant litigation and trial experience as a practitioner, in both the criminal and civil arenas

Judge Cahan handled matters in the following areas during her time on the bench: