Anna Woods

Anna Woods is a retired Industrial Appeals Judge of the Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA), where she served for ten years before retiring in early 2026. During her tenure, Judge Woods presided over contested industrial insurance hearings and was subsequently selected to serve as a Mediation and Review Judge.

Judge Woods trained at the Judicial College and became a Certified Mediator. As a Mediation Judge, she handled complex and highly contested matters, assisting parties in reaching resolution by agreement. In her Review Judge capacity, she conducted in‑depth legal review of proposed decisions and orders drafted by hearing judges and advised the three‑member Board. Her work required careful analysis of the evidentiary record and applicable law and played a central role in the Board’s decision process. While at the BIIA, Judge Woods presented at multiple continuing legal education (CLE) programs for judges and received the 2025 BIIA Employee Excellence Award.

Before joining the BIIA, Judge Woods managed her own law practice for approximately twenty years. Her practice addressed the full range of criminal matters—from traffic infractions through murder cases—as well as family law and personal injury matters. She was elected to the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association and Board of Trustees and served on numerous Tacoma‑Pierce County Bar Association committees. She was also appointed to the Washington State Bar Association Rules Committee. In recognition of her professional service, the Tacoma‑Pierce County Bar Association awarded her the Bertha Snell Award."

Judge Woods’ career reflects significant legal milestones. She tried the first case in the United States to establish paternity using DNA testing, an accomplishment that anticipated the routine use of forensic evidence in family law proceedings. She also completed an internship with the Washington State Legislature, where she assisted in drafting Washington’s criminal RICO statute, the Criminal Profiteering Act. In addition to her service with the BIIA, Judge Woods has served—and continues to serve—as a judge pro tempore. Outside of her professional work, Judge Woods enjoys yoga, making sourdough bread, and spending time with her golden retriever.