TUMWATER, WA – The Washington State Supreme Court held a swearing-in ceremony for newly re-elected Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu today in the Court’s temporary chambers. While there were three Justices elected in November, for personal reasons two of them – Barbara Madsen and G. Helen Whitener – chose to participate in private ceremonies.
Following a Robing Ceremony, Chief Justice Steven González administered the oath of office to Yu, who was first appointed to the Court by Governor Jay Inslee nearly eight years ago.
Retired Seattle judge Anne Levinson spoke about Yu prior to the ceremony. She says more than 90% of the court cases in the United States happen on the state level and state supreme courts play an important role in Americans’ lives.
Levinson says Yu tackles the work of the Court with intelligence, preparation, humility, and compassion.
She adds that Justice Yu spends countless hours trying to improve how our court system addresses the administration of justice.
Levinson says Yu recognizes that judges need to do what they can to humanize the system and avoid re-traumatizing those who come before them.
Meanwhile, Yu says she chose to have a public ceremony because she believes it is an important public event that is part of our State’s tradition.
Yu received her undergraduate degree in religious studies from Dominican University. She holds a master’s in theology from Loyola University and a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School.
An office building in Tumwater has been used for the Washington Supreme Court and State Law Library since January 4th. The Court and its offices, which have operated remotely since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, moved from the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Campus for needed internal infrastructure renovation of the 110-year-old building.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice González will present the 2023 State of the Judiciary address before a joint session of the Washington State Legislature on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in the Washington State Senate Chambers.
