Acting Chief Judge Cecily C. Hazelrigg

Judge Cecily C. Hazelrigg joined the Court of Appeals in January of 2019 after prevailing in a contested election across Skagit, Island, Whatcom and San Juan Counties in 2018. She came to the court with over a decade of legal experience in public defense and immigration practice in Skagit and Whatcom Counties. Judge Hazelrigg’s prior work as a bilingual attorney with close personal ties to immigration centered her professional focus on historically underserved communities within the legal system and working on access to justice issues. As a first generation attorney, she has also prioritized mentoring newer attorneys in trial work and youth who are interested in pursuing legal careers.

Judge Hazelrigg currently represents the Court of Appeals on the Board for Judicial Administration’s Public Engagement and Education Committee (formerly Public Trust & Confidence Committee) and the statewide Racial Justice Consortium. She is a regular presenter and organizer with the Judges in the Classroom and Legislative Scholars programs offered through the Public Engagement and Education Committee. Judge Hazelrigg is the orientation lead for new judges at Division I and previously served on the Board for Judicial Administration Court System Education Task Force.

Judge Hazelrigg was born and raised in Northwest Washington after her Texan parents were transferred to NAS Whidbey Island pursuant to her father’s service as a combat and test pilot in the United States Navy. She received her ATA from Skagit Valley College in Paralegal Studies, BA from Western Washington University in American Cultural Studies, and JD from Gonzaga University School of Law. During law school, she studied for a semester at the Universidad de Guanajuato Facultad de Derecho in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Prior to joining Division I, Judge Hazelrigg was an adjunct instructor at Western Washington University for many years and taught as visiting faculty at the Universidad Latina de American in Michoacan, Mexico. She served as a volunteer attorney at a number of free legal clinics in Skagit County and represented the Skagit County Public Defender with the Skagit-Island Community Partnership for Transition Solutions work group. Judge Hazelrigg also served on the Bellingham YWCA Board of Directors, worked as a parent volunteer in both the Bellingham and Mount Vernon School Districts, and served as treasurer for her younger child’s soccer team. She has frequently given “know your rights” presentations and spoken on various legal issues at community events within her district.

As a result of her scholarship and community service, Judge Hazelrigg was the recipient of the Western Washington University Women of Color Empowerment Award in 2008, the Whatcom Family and Community Network Ken Gass Community Building Award in 2008, and the National Association for Ethnic Studies Charles C. Irby Distinguished Service Award in 2009.

She resides in Skagit County with her family.