Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has appointed Colleen Melody, chief of the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division in the Attorney General’s office, to serve on the Washington Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Mary Yu. Melody, aged 43, is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law and has served in both the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the Washington Attorney General’s civil-rights unit.

Governor Ferguson described Melody as possessing a “brilliant legal mind” and emphasised that her selection followed a rigorous vetting process that considered intellectual capacity, work ethic and the ability to build consensus among justices.

Sixteen candidates applied for the vacancy and this marks the governor’s first appointment to the state’s top court.

The appointment will stand until the next general election, at which point voters will complete the remainder of Justice Yu’s term ending December 31, 2028.

Melody said she never dreamed of being a judge until her decade of work with juries and courts across the state awakened a desire to serve.

She stressed that although federal courts often draw headlines, “state courts are actually the place where most of us who are able to access justice go to seek it.” She added that at a time when she believes “the rule of law seems more fragile than it has to me at any point during my lifetime,” it was important that “people of goodwill, who are willing to work hard and who have deep faith in the courts as cornerstones of democracy” step forward.

Justice Yu will step down at year-end and the inaugural election for the appointed seat will take place next year.

Melody’s appointment adds a perspective built on civil-rights litigation and public-service experience to the bench, shaping how the court will address key issues such as discrimination, access to justice and the integrity of state adjudication.