Danielle Havens (Federal Way Municipal Court Position 2, Washington, candidate 2025)
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Danielle Havens is running for election to the Federal Way Municipal Court Position 2 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Havens completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Danielle Havens provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 5, 2025:
- Birth date: March 13, 1969
- Birth place: Seattle, Washington
- High school: Eastside Catholic High School
- Bachelor's: The University of Washington, 1991
- Gender: Female
- Profession: Attorney / Judge
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: Committed to serving our community with integrity, fairness and dedication.
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
General election for Federal Way Municipal Court Position 2
Mitch Greene and Danielle Havens are running in the general election for Federal Way Municipal Court Position 2 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Mitch Greene (Nonpartisan) | ||
Danielle Havens (Nonpartisan)  | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Danielle Havens completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Havens' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am passionate about the law and my ability to serve our community as a judge. I am knowledgeable, wise, thoughtful and intentional in my work. I believe that accountability is essential and that only by holding people accountable for their illegal behavior are we able to assist them in making the changes needed to become productive and law-abiding members of our community, and ultimately, that is my goal.
I grew up in Western Washington with my amazing parents, Kathleen and Walt Havens and my two younger brothers, Michael and Matthew. We were raised with the understanding that we had something to give back to others. We all have careers in service orientated work, as do my sisters-in-law.
My former husband, Dennis Brown, and I have two amazing children who are now in their 30's. Our daughter Darienne is married. She and her husband Sam, live just a few blocks from me. Our son Derrick lives 15 minutes away. We are a close and loving family.
I enjoy reading, Pilates, volunteering, walks in our beautiful region, travel, cooking and my adorable cats, Winston and Georgia. I look forward to being the next Federal Way Municipal Court Judge.- Integrity. It is essential that Judges not only live and work with integrity, but, that we infuse integrity all that happens in the Court. I explain to defendants that it is my expectation that they will participate in their case with integrity and purpose. In calling out integrity and assigning it to an individual, I believe it helps them feel capable of living with integrity. Many people who have contact with the justice system have lived away from the core values of decency, respect and integrity that we try to build into children. By drawing them back to those ideals, modeling them in the courtroom, and encouraging people not to be defined by their worst choices, I help them redefine their lives moving forward.
- Accountability. Everyone makes mistakes, for some, those mistakes are problematic enough that they are charged with infractions, code violations and crimes. I find excuses to be unacceptable. In my Court, I encourage accountability. It is my belief that in accepting responsibility for behavior, understanding the choices that made, accepting the consequences of those choices and then creating new plans that are value and law based, people can put their negative contacts with the justice system behind them and move forward as law abiding people. People do not always enter court with a desire or willingness to change. I believe it is essential that the court not only encourages, but supports change so that accountability is a positive.
- Fairness. I am a person with strong opinions, values and beliefs. And I am dedicated as a Judge to strictly following the law. My personal thoughts are irrelevant in the courtroom. I approach all cases before me with an unbiased and open mind focused on the rule of law. As a Judge, I show all who appear before me, whether defendants, attorneys, jurors or court staff, that they are welcome and will always be treated with respect and fairness. Much that happens in court is scary, stressful and consequential. I greet people with kindness, handle the serious aspects of their appearance with wisdom, respect, sound judgment, and fairness. I do not allow my personal feelings to influence my judgment or demeanor, because fairness matters.
Through campaigning, I have learned that people are feeling unsafe and that crime is out of control. In our community, crime numbers are dropping, which is exciting. The more we create whole community opportunities and activities, the more people will become aware of how safe our community has become
I am also ridiculously proud of my Mom, Kathleen. My Mom has the most kind and loving heart. She is so happy when she is with the people that she loves, and she loves abundantly, so she is almost always happy! My Mom has the unique ability to engage in and enjoy anything with people that she cares for, and she adapts to situations really easily. I have often said that if you told my Mom to get excited because we were all going to Disneyland together, she would be over the moon with excitement. On the morning of the adventure, if you said, "Actually, change of plans, we are all going on a silent retreat together," without missing a beat, she would say, "that sounds lovely and relaxing, I am so glad we will all be able to share this experience together!" I think that is an amazing gift.
Integrity matters because the public should be confident that their elected officials are trustworthy, will honor their words, and when their views evolve and grow, that they will explain the evolution, and own it.
Respect matters because when in a position of trust, there are many who are vulnerable that we serve. All people need to meet their elected officials and know that they, their viewpoints, needs and questions are seen, heard, processed and taken seriously. An elected will not agree with every constituent, but every constituent deserves to be heard and respected.
Being an elected official requires tremendous dedication because we are not simply serving ourselves, but all, even those who did not vote for us. That requires dedication and commitment to the work and those that the work serves. It is exhausting, often frustrating, rewarding, and important. It requires dedication, especially on the tough days.
If I can be known for only one thing, I hope it is that I am kind. Elected officials meet people in every walk and phase of life. Some are lovely and some are challenging. All are people who deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, dignity and grace. This is the foundation of my life.
There is so much more. The Judge will help to set the tone for the court. I am committed to making Federal Way Municipal Court where people know that they will be heard and justice shall be served. We have a community court program, and I am committed to that program and ensuring that it continues to thrive and grow. Therapeutic Courts have great outcomes, reduce recidivism, make people feel more connected to the community and offer opportunities for people to improve the quality of their lives.
Given the State's current budget concerns, the Judge will also be responsible for finding grants and other creative ways of bringing in resources to help the court to run efficiently and effectively.
Federal Way Municipal Court employs a full-time peer support specialist, and the Judge will be responsible for making sure that that essential role remains funded and accessible for the community.
The Court has 17 non-judicial employees between court clerks, probation, security and the peers. The Judge must set a tone of professionalism while creating a workspace where employees feel valued and heard and appreciated. Without the court staff, the system would collapse. They are essential.
Nana was thrilled about the bi-centennial and made me a Betsy Ross Costume that was beautiful!! She hand sewed it and made me a cute little bonnet to wear with it and got me a 13-star colonial flag to carry with it! I won the Halloween Costume Contest, and my little brother had a Paul Revere costume that she made, complete with a tricorn hat and a piccolo! It was a very exciting day. I love winning contests! Because of my Nana and her passion for our country and history, the bi-centennial was a very big deal.
I remember watching the parade of big sailing ships in New York Harbor on TV, and watching President Ford talk on TV from Valley Forge. We were in Los Angeles on the 4th of July and I remember that the fireworks seemed bigger and better than ever before. Also, that year, the Liberty Bell toured the whole country and my class got to go and see it on a field trip! It was a very exciting field trip!
For instance, we were never to use the word "rag". Lisa said that "rags are filthy", we used "towels". 'please pass me that towel so I can wipe down the counter." To this day, the word rag makes me feel anxious.
Lisa also taught me how to properly handle money. All of the bills went into the drawer in the same direction, and we were required to count change back rather than allowing the register to tell us how much change was owed and just dumping it into the customer's hand. I think this is an essential skill and one that many people do not have.
Once they were fluid excellent readers, we would go to the midnight book release parties to get three copies of the books. We would then go home and I would read the first chapter aloud. Then, we would all retreat to our own rooms and read all weekend, breaking for food and snatches of sleep. Then, when we all reached the end, we would gather together and I would read the last chapter out loud. It was a magical time. We also went to all of the movies together!
The first film came out my first year of law school. I got the children capes, wands, and witches' hats. My parent's picked them up from school and brought them downtown to meet me. They had no idea what we were doing. I handed them the packages that contained their outfits, and they were in a state of glee when they ripped the paper off. We all went to the movie, and it was brilliant!
I admire Pierce County District Court Judge Lizanne Padula. Judge Padula not only gave me my start as a Judge Pro Tem and encouraged me to run, but she is a brilliant legal mind. She studies the law voraciously, reads, discusses case law with colleagues and constantly works to make her court smarter, wiser and more judicious.
Both Judge Larson and Judge Padula are active members in the service community as well. Judge Larson has been an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Federal Way as well as an active member of his faith community, and Judge Padula is the Statewide chair of the YMCA High School Mock Trial Competition. She has devoted countless hours to ensuring that the competition is exciting, vibrant and inclusive. She has also been a volunteer with the local high school for at risk youth.
In Court, cognitive empathy, the intellectual process of understanding another's perspective and situation, allows for a more nuanced and impartial application of the law. I believe it improves decision making by mitigating personal biases. Empathy helps to build public trust in the Judicial Process.
It is through cognitive empathy that I make sure that I do not place greater value on those who share my personal values and beliefs. I put those aside when I put on the black robe, and focus my understanding on those before me, their lives and experiences and backgrounds, and how they came before the court.
Cognitive empathy helps to level the playing field when it comes to inequality. My ability to empathize with other perspectives is crucial to fully and fairly considering all issues.
Legal doctrines are filled with "balancing tests" and reasonableness standards" that require me to understand the perspective of all parties, especially when there are aspects of the case that are more subjective. Having empathy allows me to view all sides as more of an objective observer.
Cognitive empathy also allows me to consider context and the motives of all, allowing me to competently and effectively apply the law to arguments and technical facts.
I also believe that defendants accept my ruling more graciously because I deliver them with empathy. This helps people to understand that they have been both seen and heard and that the ruling has not gone their way because it is in conflict with the law. This acceptance, even when they disagree with a ruling, makes for a much more peaceful courtroom, and it affords greater understanding of the process.
I am committed to Federal Way and to a fair, accessible and unbiased judicial practice. I vow to hold those who violate the law accountable, and to do so with integrity, respect and fairness.
I know that I want to be a municipal court judge rather than a district court judge because it is more intimate and personal. I want to be a member of a vibrant community like Federal Way and to truly get to know the people that I serve within our community.
As an active volunteer in Federal Way, I have seen how great the need for services, rental assistance, food assistance, clothes, diapers, formula and other essentials has become in this economy. This service work has given me greater insight into many of the crimes that are committed locally and has allowed me to connect people with resources and services that can help them get through their challenges and move forward in a law-abiding way.
On the day I learned that I had passed the bar, I was at Red Robin with my children and one of my best friends and her children. Our sons had just finished their soccer game, and I was trying to stay away from the house so that I would not be obsessing over the mailbox waiting for my results. We had been told that we would receive our results in the mail on Saturday and they would post them online on Monday.
So, I was sitting in Red Robin with my dear ones when I got a cellphone call from a law school friend. She was screaming into the phone, and I told her I was so happy for her and that I didn't know my results yet. She yelled into the phone, "They posted results online! I am looking at your name, you passed!" I immediately burst into tears as did my children and friend. We were all screaming and Red Robin comped our meal. It was the most excited I have ever been, and I felt so proud of myself.
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Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Havens completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
