Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Washington Supreme Court Appoints Sarah Pendleton as New Supreme Court Clerk

Washington Supreme Court justices have appointed Sarah R. Pendleton to the position of Supreme Court Clerk. She will be sworn in to the office on February 11, with a public ceremony planned for February 24.

Currently serving as Acting Clerk, Pendleton will serve as the 12th Clerk in state history, and as an Asian American, will be the first person of color to serve in the role. She succeeds Supreme Court Clerk Erin Lennon, who was appointed to the position in 2021 and stepped away from the role for health reasons.

The Supreme Court clerk maintains the records of the Court – the thousands of case files and documents involved in the work of the Court each year – and manages the Court’s case flow, mandated filing timelines, calendars, and dockets.

“The Court is thrilled to welcome Sarah Pendleton as our new Supreme Court Clerk. Sarah has exceptional leadership and legal skills and is a perfect fit for us,” said Justice Steven González, who served as Chief Justice when Pendleton was chosen for the position in early January.

“The Supreme Court Clerk serves a vital role in ensuring that the court is efficient, effective and responsive to the needs of the public. Sarah has done an outstanding job as Acting Clerk and has earned the confidence of the court and her talented staff,” said Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens.

Pendleton joined in the Court in July, 2021 as deputy Supreme Court clerk. Prior to that, she served as chief of contracts and legal services for the state Department of Social and Health Services, and in other contracts positions with DSHS. She studied international relations at the University of Washington and graduated from Seattle University School of Law, where she served as President of the Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association.

She became Acting Clerk of the Court in August, 2024.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Clerk of the Supreme Court and to lead the office that is the first point of contact for the public and parties interacting with the Court,” she said, following her appointment.

A public ceremony for Pendleton’s appointment is planned for 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.

Erin Lennon began serving as deputy Supreme Court clerk in 2016 before being appointed as the Supreme Court’s 11th Clerk in 2021. She guided the Clerk’s Office through operations during the COVID pandemic and through a two-year renovation of the Temple of Justice, during which the Court moved to a temporary location in Tumwater.

“The past four years have presented us with unprecedented challenges, including a global pandemic, and Erin provided the vision and leadership we needed to not simply meet those challenges but innovate better processes as a result,” said Chief Justice Stephens “We are grateful for her knowledge, her skills and her passion for justice. We wish her the best and we will miss her.”

For further information on the operations of Washington’s Supreme Court and the Clerk’s Office, please visit our website.