Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Talks with Washington Judges of Color

Taking advantage of a unique opportunity for mentorship and recognizing the importance of diversity on the bench, several Washington judges of color met with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson when she visited Seattle Sept. 9 as part of her book tour.

Washington Supreme Court Justices Mary Yu and G. Helen Whitener saw a unique mentorship opportunity and invited Jackson to meet with newer Washington judges of color following her talk. Justice Yu serves as co-chair of the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission (MJC), whose mission is ensuring Washington courts remain free of bias so justice may be administered in a neutral and fair manner.

Justice Whitener mentors many in the legal profession because “pipeline efforts are important,” she said. “But the importance of being a trailblazer is not to be the first, it is to ensure that you are not the last.”

Justice Jackson, the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, was invited by Seattle Arts and Lecture to speak at Benaroya Hall. Jackson has recently released a book, “Lovely One: A Memoir,” which traces the extraordinary path of her family’s rise from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation.

“I thought it would be a way to affirm and encourage these judges to see themselves as trailblazers in our own state,” said Yu. “It was a long shot dream and then everything fell into place." Yu joined the Washington Supreme Court in 2014 and is the first Asian, Latina, and member of the LGBTQ community to serve on the Court.

As the first Black woman justice on the Washington Supreme Court, Justice Whitener felt “it was important to facilitate a meet-up with the first Black woman on our nation's highest court.” Whitener joined the Court in 2020.

One core aspect of the MJC mission is promoting diversity in the legal profession, with such efforts as:

• Youth & Law Forums: The Commission sponsors annual Youth and Law Forums in King County, Pierce County, Skagit County and the Tri-Cities, having recently expanded the annual forums to additional counties. Middle- and high-school students learn about legal rights and responsibilities, the state justice system, and hear from a diverse group of lawyers, judges and other justice system professionals. It is an important opportunity for youth to engage with the courts in a positive way and learn about different career paths in law.
   
• Law Student Liaison Program: The Commission’s Law School Liaisons work to promote diversity in the legal profession by engaging with current law students at the University of Washington, Gonzaga University and Seattle University. The Commission sponsors law students who organize equity-focused events at their law schools. This offers opportunities for law students to build their professional networks and develop skills necessary to recognize and respond to systemic racism in the legal system.
   
• Diversity in the Judiciary Directory: The MJC publishes a directory of diverse judicial officers in Washington as a resource for locating speakers, networking, and mentorship. The directory supports building a judiciary that reflects the rich diversity of Washingtonians, a step toward a fair and bias-free system of justice. Judges who have agreed to be listed in the directory have also agreed to serve as mentors, speakers and community resources, available to share information on how to become judicial officers and the realities of that important role. 

To learn about more Minority and Justice Commission programs and activities, read their recent Annual Report and visit their web page.

The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission was established by the state Supreme Court in 1990 to recommend actions for overcoming racial and ethnic bias in the courts of Washington. A 1988 task force established at the request of state lawmakers found that bias exists in the state’s judicial system.

CONTACT: Frank Thomas, Senior Court Program Analyst, Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, Frank.Thomas@courts.wa.gov; Kelley Amburgey-Richardson, Manager  of Supreme Court Commissions, kelley.amburgey-richardson@courts.wa.gov; Lorrie Thompson, senior communications officer, Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov, (360) 705-5347.