Judge Hemstreet graduated from Willamette University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies.  She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Willamette University College of Law.  Judge Hemstreet was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 1998.

 

As an attorney, she was in private practice working primarily in the areas of felony criminal defense and family law.  Judge Hemstreet was also active in the Kitsap County and Washington State Legal Community.  She served as a Trustee, Vice President, and President of the Kitsap County Bar Association.  She served on the Kitsap County Family Law Practice and Procedure board.  During her career, she was a member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, the Washington Defender Association, and Washington Women Lawyers.

 

Judge Hemstreet was appointed to the Kitsap County Superior Court bench by Governor Inslee in July of 2015.  Since taking the bench, she worked with members of the local legal community to start the Kitsap County Human Trafficking Taskforce and remains a co-chair of this taskforce. She was a member of the Commercially Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee in Washington state.  She is also a member of the steering committee for the National Judicial Network: Forum on Human Trafficking and Immigration in State Courts.

 

Judge Hemstreet was also privileged to start the first Girls Court in Washington state in the spring of 2019 in collaboration with Kitsap County Juvenile Court and the Center for Children & Youth Justice.  This was the state’s first gender responsive court designed to assist youth who identify as young women get the services and support, they need in order to reach their full potential. During her time on the bench, Judge Hemstreet has developed a passion for therapeutic courts.  She is currently the Therapeutic Court Committee Chair for the Superior Court Judge’s Association and sits on the board of the Washington Association of Drug Court Professionals and the Washington Association of Drug Courts.  She presided over the Kitsap County Adult Drug Court and the Kitsap County Veteran’s Court, in addition to Girls Court, for six years (2019 – 2024).  Currently, she presides over Kitsap County’s Family Treatment Court, Safe Babies Court, and Girls Court.

 

When she is not working, Judge Hemstreet enjoys spending time with her family, attending community events, and her children’s activities.