Gov. Ferguson taps former AG civil rights chief for Washington Supreme Court

Jim Brunner, The Seattle Times on Nov 24, 2025

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SEATTLE — Gov. Bob Ferguson has turned to a longtime colleague and top civil rights lawyer in naming his pick to serve on the Washington Supreme Court.

Ferguson on Monday appointed Colleen Melody, whom he hired more than a decade ago to lead the civil rights division in the attorney general's office, to fill the court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Mary Yu.

Flanked by Yu and several other state Supreme Court justices, Ferguson praised Melody at a news conference for her brilliant legal mind" and said she's known as a "creative problem solver and a fearless defender of democracy."

Melody has led the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division of the attorney general's office since 2015. Ferguson, then the state attorney general, hired her to build the new division at that time, to investigate and fight discrimination in areas including housing, credit, employment and education.

In that role, Ferguson noted, Melody led actions against the first and second Trump administrations, including winning an order blocking the president's initial "travel ban" from predominantly Muslim countries in 2017. This year, she helped secure a temporary restraining order blocking Trump's effort to revoke birthright citizenship.

Ferguson got choked up at the announcement as he recalled seeing Melody's caring attitude while dealing with victims of discrimination and other wrongdoing at the civil rights unit. "These were emotional meetings," he said.

Prior to being hired by Ferguson at the attorney general's office, Melody spent four years with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., according to the governor's office. A native of Spokane, she graduated first in her class from the University of Washington School of Law.

At the news conference, Melody said she had sought the court appointment at a moment when "the rule of law seems more fragile" than at any point in her lifetime.

"It seemed important to me that people who are people of goodwill, who are willing to work hard and who have deep faith in the court as cornerstones of democracy, that those people be willing to raise their hands and serve, she said.

Washington's Supreme Court justices are elected, but vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment.

Unlike most — but not all — current state Supreme Court justices, Melody has not served previously as a judge. The only requirement for serving on the court is that a prospective justice be admitted to the practice of law in the state.

She has practiced law before the state Supreme Court, successfully arguing a case that upheld the attorney general's office's right to enforce civil rights laws on behalf of the public.

Melody will serve on the state's high court starting in 2026, when Yu officially steps down. She will have to run for election next fall to fill the remainder of Yu's unexpired term, which runs through 2028.

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