Colleen Melody
Colleen Melody is a judge for Position 1 of the Washington Supreme Court. She assumed office on January 1, 2026. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Melody first became a member of the Washington Supreme Court through an appointment. Governor of Washington Bob Ferguson (D) first appointed Melody to the court on November 24, 2025 to the seat vacated by Mary Yu.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Melody earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in 2004, and her J.D. degree from the University of Washington in 2009.[2]
Prior to her appointment to the Washington Supreme Court, Melody served as director of the Civil Rights Division of the Washington state attorney general's office from 2015 to 2025.[3]
Appointments
Washington Supreme Court (2026-present)
Governor Bob Ferguson (D) appointed Colleen Melody to the Washington State Supreme Court on November 24, 2025.[4] Melody replaces Justice Mary Yu, who retired on December 31, 2025. Melody is Gov. Ferguson's first nominee to the nine-member supreme court.
In Washington, state supreme court justices are elected in nonpartisan elections. There are 13 states that use this selection method. To read more about the nonpartisan election of judges, click here.
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election, at which point he or she may run to serve for the remainder of the predecessor's term.[5] If the resignation and subsequent appointment takes place after the filing period opens for that year's elections, the appointee must stand in the next year's election to remain on the bench.[6][7]
State supreme court judicial selection in Washington
- See also: Judicial selection in Washington
The nine justices of the supreme court are selected through contested nonpartisan elections and must run for re-election when their terms expire. Supreme court judges serve for six years.[8]
Qualifications
To serve on the supreme court, a judge must be:
- admitted to practice law in Washington; and
- under the age of 75.[9]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is selected through a peer vote and has a set term of four years.[10]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election, at which point he or she may run to serve for the remainder of the predecessor's term.[5] If the resignation and subsequent appointment takes place after the filing period opens for that year's elections, the appointee must stand in the next year's election to remain on the bench.[11]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, “Governor Ferguson appoints Spokane native Colleen Melody to Washington Supreme Court”, November 24, 2025
- ↑ University of Washington Magazine, "Colleen Melody appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court by Gov. Bob Ferguson," December 18, 2025
- ↑ University of Washington Magazine, "Colleen Melody appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court by Gov. Bob Ferguson," December 18, 2025
- ↑ Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, "Governor Ferguson appoints Spokane native Colleen Melody to Washington Supreme Court," November 24, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Washington State Legislature, "Washington State Constitution," accessed April 16, 2025 (Scroll to Article IV, Section 3)
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, “Governor Ferguson appoints Spokane native Colleen Melody to Washington Supreme Court”, November 24, 2025
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, Methods of Judicial Selection: Washington," accessed April 16, 2025
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mary Yu |
Washington State Supreme Court Position 1 2026-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington
State courts:
Washington Supreme Court • Washington Court of Appeals • Washington Superior Court • Washington District Courts • Washington Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Washington • Washington judicial elections • Judicial selection in Washington
