Justice Mary E. Fairhurst

Elected in 2002, Mary Fairhurst began serving as a justice on the Washington Supreme Court in 2003.  She started her legal career in the Supreme Court as a judicial clerk, working first with Chief Justice William H. Williams in 1984 and then with Justice William C. Goodloe until 1986.

For the intervening 16 years, Justice Fairhurst served the citizens of the state of Washington in the Washington Attorney General's Office.  She worked with Attorneys General Christine Gregoire and Ken Eikenberry.  She specialized in the areas of criminal justice, transportation, revenue, and labor.  When she left, she was serving as the Division Chief of the Revenue, Bankruptcy and Collections Division.  In 1998, Attorney General Gregoire gave her Steward of Justice award to Justice Fairhurst.

Justice Fairhurst also did work not related to her cases that made a difference to Washington citizens.  She worked on the constitutional amendment to increase the rights of crime victims while still honoring the constitutional rights of the accused. She organized the first statewide conferences on domestic violence.  She planned and facilitated a youth violence summit and organized and moderated conferences dealing with sex offenders in the community.

Justice Fairhurst is a leader in the legal profession.  She served as President of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA).  She was the second woman, first public sector, and youngest attorney to hold this position. She also served on the Bar Board of Governors representing the Third Congressional District and as President of Washington Women Lawyers.

Currently she chairs the Judicial Information System Committee and chairs the Board for Judicial Administration's (BJA) Public Trust and Confidence Committee.  She serves on the Supreme Court's Rules Committee, Personnel Committee, and Long Range Planning Committee.  She is a member of the BJA's Court Security Committee. 

Throughout her career, Justice Fairhurst has worked to enhance the opportunities for women and minorities in the profession and to ensure access to justice for low-income individuals and families.  In 1998, Washington Women Lawyers gave her its Passing the Torch award and in 1999, LEGALS, P.S. gave her its Allies for Justice award.  She has served on the Supreme Court's Gender and Justice Commission and Access to Justice Board committees.  She has also served on the WSBA’s Council for Public Legal Education.

Justice Fairhurst is also active working for children and youth.  She served two years on the Girl Scouts Board of the Pacific Peaks Council.  She supports the YMCA Youth and Government Program and helped create the Lawyers and Students Engaged in Resolution Program. 

In 1984, Justice Fairhurst earned her law degree magna cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law.  She earned her undergraduate degree in political science cum laude from Gonzaga University in 1979.  She also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Gonzaga University in 2006.  She currently serves as president of the Gonzaga Law School Board of Advisors and the Gonzaga Law School Alumni Association.  She is also a member of the Gonzaga University Board of Regents.  In September 2004, Justice Fairhurst delivered the 33rd annual William O. Douglas lecture at Gonzaga University School of Law.  She received the Myra Bradwell award from Gonzaga in 1999.