Judge Doris Walkins is a long time resident of Tacoma-Pierce County.

Judge Walkins graduated from the University of Washington, Tacoma, Class of '02, earning a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. Judge Walkins later graduated from the Seattle University School of Law, Class of '06, earning a Juris Doctor. Judge Walkins sat for and passed the Summer 2006, Washington State Bar Exam, and was sworn into the Washington State Bar Association as a licensed attorney in November 2006. Judge Walkins was also a member of the Puyallup Tribal Bar Association, admitted in 2009, and the United States District Court, Western District, admitted in 2009.

Prior to her career as an attorney and judicial officer, Judge Walkins served as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence at the YWCA, Tacoma Pierce County's, Women's Support Shelter, from 2000-2005, and Noel House Emergency Women's Shelter in Seattle, from 2005-2006.

Judge Walkins was a long time business owner in Pierce County, owning and operating Doris M. Walkins, Attorney at Law, PLLC for close 16 years, before accepting the Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner position in June 2022.

As an attorney, Judge Walkins practiced various areas of law--family, domestic violence, dependency defense, termination of parental rights defense, adoptions, criminal defense, estate planning, contract negotiations, and more. Judge Walkins served as a Title 26 Guardian ad Litem, advocating for the best interests of children, and making parenting recommendations as an expert witness in high conflict family law cases, from 2008-2021. 

As a Commissioner, Judge Walkins presided over every area of law, including family, probate, unlawful detainers, juvenile criminal, dependencies, terminations, involuntary commitment, domestic violence, and more. Judge Walkins served as a Pro-Tem Commissioner from 2021-2022.

Judge Walkins has volunteered in the Pierce County community for many years, serving as Secretary of the Pierce County Minority Bar Association from 2019-2022, and volunteering for their annual Youth and Law Forum, including as a judicial candidate panelist in 2024. Judge Walkins has served as a mentor for students engaged in the Legal Pathways program at the University of Washington, Tacoma, along with being awarded the 2025 Community Service Award for Outstanding Jurist, by the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association. 

Judge Walkins has been rated Exceptionally Well Qualified by multiple bar associations, including the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association. 

Judge Walkins was appointed to the Pierce County Superior Court, Department 17, by Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson on February 25, 2026. Judge Walkins takes over Department 17 from the esteemed Pierce County Superior Court Judge Karena Kirkendoll (Ret). Judge Kirkendoll previously endorsed Judge Walkins (then Commissioner Walkins) during her prior candidacy for Pierce County Superior Court Judge.