R. W. Buzzard

R. W. Buzzard is an American jurist who, as of 2019, is a judge of the District Court of Lewis County, a rural county in the state of Washington. Buzzard has criticized the adequacy of court security in Washington and, on several occasions, has descended from the bench to personally restrain criminal defendants attempting to flee.

Early life and education R. W. Buzzard is the son of Steve Buzzard, a former judge of the municipal court of Chehalis, Washington, and Missy Buzzard, the town's former mayor. According to Buzzard, he kept the firearm for personal protection as one of his judicial duties was to ride circuit to the remote town of Morton, Washington. Later that October, Buzzard again descended from the bench to give chase after two criminal suspects attempted to escape his courtroom. When the two men fled, Buzzard ripped off his judicial robe and pursued the suspects through the courthouse, ultimately grappling and restraining one of the two. The second man was later apprehended by deputies of the Lewis County Sheriff. He helped subdue a prisoner during an altercation at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in May 2025, tackling a man in custody attempting to flee a courtroom who had also physically attacked a security officer.

Personal life Buzzard is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is Methodist. He is married with two children.