Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

King County Judge Veronica Galván is New Co-chair of Minority and Justice Commission

King County Superior Court Judge Veronica Galván has been unanimously elected co-chair of the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission by members of the Commission. She takes over for Justice G. Helen Whitener, who stepped down after she joined the Supreme Court bench.

Judge Galván steps into her new role as co-chair at the Commission’s meeting on March 19.

The Minority and Justice Commission (MJC) was established by the state Supreme Court in 1990 to examine whether racial and ethnic bias exist in the courts of Washington, to determine the forms that bias takes, and to actively work to prevent and overcome bias. The Commission is headed by both a justice of the state Supreme Court and by a trial court judge, serving as co-chairs.

“I am humbled and honored that my fellow Commission members have placed their trust and confidence in me as we engage in the work ahead,” Judge Galván said. “It is a privilege to serve alongside Justice Yu and the MJC members who have dedicated their time and energy to addressing issues of bias in our legal system and continually strive to give concrete meaning to the term ‘and justice for all’.”

Some of the Commission’s work includes annual symposiums that delve deeply into specific areas of the justice system impacted by racial and ethnic bias, focusing on causes and solutions; research studies such as the recent groundbreaking report on Girls of Color in Detention; hosting Youth and Justice forums for students across Washington to introduce them to the justice system; and projects such as a recent examination of Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs – court fines and fees) and how they impact people of low-income and people of color.

“I am so pleased and honored that Judge Galván accepted the invitation to serve as co-chair,” said Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, longtime co-chair of the Commission. “She has a deep commitment to racial equality in our courts and is the perfect person to lead us into the future on these critical issues.”

Galván has served as a King County Superior Court judge since 2015, and currently serves as chief judge of the Maleng Regional Justice Center. Before joining the superior court bench she served as presiding judge of Des Moines Municipal Court from 2007 to 2014. Prior to that, she served as an administrative law judge, as an assistant city attorney for Federal Way, and as an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board.

“I have been a member of the Minority and Justice Commission for over a decade,” Galván said. “I am proud of the work the MJC has done to improve justice in the state of Washington, and look forward to continuing this work in the years to come.”

CONTACT:  Administrative Manager for the Supreme Court Commissions Cynthia Delostrinos at Cynthia.Delostrinos@courts.wa.gov; Senior Communications Officer Lorrie Thompson, Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov.