OLYMPIA – Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson made his first selection to State Superior Court this morning, Monday, November 24, appointing Colleen Melody to the State Supreme Court.
Melody will be replacing retiring Justice Mary Yu, who’s retirement goes into effect at the end of the year.
Melody and Gov. Ferguson date back to 2015 when the Governor, then WA STATE Attorney General, established the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division where she has led the division since. Through her work here, she has led some of Washington’s highest profile cases including leading an effort to block President Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban, which barred the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
“Colleen Melody has devoted her career to standing up for those who often don’t have a voice in our justice system,” said Governor Ferguson. “As Attorney General, I worked extremely closely with Colleen, where I had a front row seat to her immense legal skills, prodigious work rate, and passion for justice. Her public service has made our state and nation a more equitable place. She will make an excellent justice.”
Separate to her state experience, Melody spent four years with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington D.C., investigating and litigating federal civil rights cases. Her work here has earned her the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding New Employee and the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights’ Special Commendation for Outstanding Service.
Melody’s work on the litigation to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) led to a 2018 court order that is still protecting DACA recipients today. In the State Supreme Court, Melody argued in the State of Washington v. City of Sunnyside case which upheld the Attorney General’s authority to enforce civil rights laws.
“Thank you to Governor Ferguson for the honor of this appointment, and to Justice Yu being such an example of true public service,” said Melody. “Washington’s courts are cornerstones of our democracy. I look forward to working with all my judicial colleagues to ensure that Washington’s courts serve as a model of independence, excellence, and access to justice.”
Melody was awarded the Legal Foundation of Washington’s Charles A. Goldmark Distinguished Service Award in 2018, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association Jack Wasserman Memorial Award in 2017. She received the Steward of Justice Award, the Attorney General’s highest honor, in 2018.
Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said of Melody’s appointment:
“Colleen is a brilliant attorney, the founding division director of the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division, and an inspirational leader to many at the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Even after just 11 months here, it is hard to imagine the office without Colleen’s expertise, savvy, toughness, and caring,” said Attorney General Brown. “Our loss is Washington state’s gain. There’s no place in Washington where Colleen could be more influential than on our highest court. Congratulations, Colleen.”
Author: Kienan Briscoe
