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List of first women lawyers and judges in Washington

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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

This is a list of the first women lawyer(s) and judge(s) in the U.S. state of Washington. It includes the year in which the women were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are women who achieved other distinctions such becoming the first in their state to graduate from law school or become a political figure.

Firsts in Washington's history

File:ChristineGregoireOfficial.jpg: First female Deputy Attorney General (1981) and Attorney General in Washington (1993)]]

File:Mayor Jenny A. Durkan Headshot.jpg

= Lawyers =

  • First female: Mary Leonard (1885){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f3IUCwAAQBAJ|title=Gender Remade: Citizenship, Suffrage, and Public Power in the New Northwest, 1879–1912|last=VanBurkleo|first=Sandra F.|date=2015-11-30|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781316473030|language=en}} {{anchor}}
  • First Jewish American female: Bella Weretnikow Rosenbaum (1901){{Cite web|url=https://jwa.org/thisweek/jun/06/1901/bella-weretnikow|title=First Jewish woman lawyer admitted to Washington state bar {{!}} Jewish Women's Archive|website=jwa.org|language=en|access-date=2018-02-12}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=svsUCgAAQBAJ|title=Jewish Women Pioneering the Frontier Trail: A History in the American West|last=Abrams|first=Jeanne E.|date=November 2007|publisher=NYU Press|isbn=9780814707203|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBMvAQAAIAAJ|title=America, History and Life|date=2005|publisher=ABC-CLIO|language=en}}
  • First Filipino American female: Dolores Sibonga (1973){{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/whatittakeshowwo00park|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/whatittakeshowwo00park/page/6 6]|quote=first filipina to practice law in the united states.|title=What it Takes: How Women of Color Can Thrive Within the Practice of Law|last=Parker|first=Monica R.|date=2010-01-01|publisher=American Bar Association|isbn=9781590319925|language=en}}
  • First female quadriplegic: Holly Caudill (1995){{Cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/may/28/quadriplegic-an-inspiration-to-all-she-meets/|title=Quadriplegic An Inspiration To All She Meets {{!}} The Spokesman-Review|website=www.spokesman.com|access-date=2019-06-28}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-28-mn-42037-story.html|title=Obituaries|date=1999-05-28|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-06-28|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/7b7fe6e65b1a626dfacea27f26ec29f4|title=Obituaries in the News|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-06-28}}

= Law Clerks =

  • First female to clerk for the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III: Victoria L. Vreeland{{Cite web|date=2021|title=King County Bar Association's Annual Awards Celebration|url=https://www.kcba.org/Portals/0/events/annualdinner/2021/2021_AA_Program.pdf|website=King County Bar Association}}
  • First female to clerk for the Supreme Court of Washington: Susan Carlson in 2016{{Cite web|title=Washington State Courts - News, Reports, Court Information|url=https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=45978|access-date=2022-01-24|website=www.courts.wa.gov}}

= State judges =

  • First female (justice of the peace): Mildred Henthorn Hamill in 1911{{Cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1911-12-21/ed-1/seq-15/|title=First Woman Judge in the Country|newspaper=The Day Book|date=1911-12-21|access-date=2019-02-27|issn=2163-7121}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.alaskahistory.org/biographies/hamill-mildred-henthorn/|title=Hamill, Mildred Henthorn {{!}} Alaska History|website=www.alaskahistory.org|access-date=2019-02-27}}
  • First female: Reah Whitehead (1893)in 1914{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RjVPAQAAIAAJ|title=Washington State Bar News|date=1995|publisher=Washington State Bar Association|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U6uJ-oWsZFYC&pg=PA886|title=Great American Judges: An Encyclopedia|last=Vile|first=John R.|date=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781576079898|language=en}}
  • First Latino American female: Carmen Otero in 1980{{Cite web |title=King County Judge Otero To Retire |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950606&slug=2124915 |access-date=2020-01-28 |website=archive.seattletimes.com}}{{Cite web |title=From Teacher To Judge To Time Off -- Otero Plans To Retire After Two Decades On King County Bench |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950621&slug=2127525 |access-date=2020-01-28 |website=archive.seattletimes.com}}
  • First female (Washington Supreme Court): Carolyn R. Dimmick (1953) in 1981{{Cite news|url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/legacy/stories/carolyn-dimmick/|title=Carolyn Dimmick: A judge for all seasons - Legacy Washington - WA Secretary of State|access-date=2018-02-02}}
  • First African American female (municipal court): Norma S. Huggins in 1983{{Cite web |title=Equal Justice Newsletter: Volume 3, Number 1, March 2000 |url=https://www.courts.wa.gov/programs_orgs/pos_mjc/newsletter/032000/equaljustice.cfm?article=huggins.htm |access-date=2018-02-02 |website=www.courts.wa.gov}}
  • First African American female (superior court): Norma S. Huggins in 1988
  • First Asian American female: C. Kimi Kondo in 1991{{Cite web |date=2019-01-21 |title=Judge C. Kimi Kondo retirement |url=http://nwasianweekly.com/2019/01/judge-c-kimi-kondo-retirement/ |access-date=2019-01-22 |website=Northwest Asian Weekly |language=en-US}}
  • First female (Chief Justice; Washington Supreme Court): Barbara Durham in 1995{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990916/2983463/durham-resigning-state-supreme-court|title=Business {{!}} Durham Resigning State Supreme Court|website=community.seattletimes.nwsource.com|access-date=2019-07-22}}
  • First Korean American (female): Mariane Spearman in 1999{{Cite book |last=Martin |first=Mart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GpRXDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT270 |title=The Almanac Of Women And Minorities In American Politics 2002 |date=2018-04-24 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780429976483 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-10-05 |title=The Times recommends: Mariane Spearman for King County Superior Court position 53 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/the-times-recommends-mariane-spearman-for-king-county-superior-court-position-53/ |access-date=2019-07-22 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}
  • First Iranian American (female): Susan Amini in 2013{{Cite web |title=Governor Inslee appoints Susan Amini to King County Superior Court {{!}} Governor Jay Inslee |url=https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/governor-inslee-appoints-susan-amini-king-county-superior-court |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=www.governor.wa.gov |language=en}}
  • First Asian American, Latino American, and openly lesbian (female) (Washington Supreme Court): Mary Yu (1993) in 2014{{Cite web|url=http://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicupload/eclips/2014%2005%2021%20State%20Supreme%20Court%20Justice%20Mary%20Yu%20sworn%20in.pdf|title=State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu sworn in|last=Camden|first=Jim|date=May 21, 2014|website=The Spokesman-Review}}{{Cite web |title=Justice Mary I. Yu |url=https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/supreme/bios/?fa=scbios.display_file&fileID=Yu |website=Washington State Courts}}
  • First (African American) openly lesbian female (superior court): Helen Whitener (1998) in 2015{{Cite web |title=Judge Helen Whitener '98 named Woman of the Year : Seattle University School of Law : Seattle Washington |url=https://law.seattleu.edu/newsroom/2019-news/judge-helen-whitener-98-named-woman-of-the-year |access-date=2019-04-04 |website=law.seattleu.edu}}{{Cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Austin |title=Gov. Jay Inslee Appoints First Black Female Justice To Serve On Washington Supreme Court |url=https://www.opb.org/news/article/washington-state-first-female-black-justice-appointed-supreme-court/ |access-date=2020-04-28 |newspaper=Opb |language=en}}
  • First African American female (Washington Court of Appeals; Judge and Chief Judge): Lori K. Smith in 2018{{Cite web |date=2018-07-03 |title=Inslee Appoints Judge Lori K. Smith To State Court Of Appeals |url=https://seattlemedium.com/inslee-appoints-judge-lori-k-smith-state-court-appeals/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=The Seattle Medium |language=en-US}}
  • First (African American) openly lesbian female (Washington Supreme Court): Helen Whitener (1998) in 2020
  • First Native American (Pueblo of Isleta/Pueblo of Laguna) (female) (Washington Supreme Court): Raquel Montoya-Lewis in 2020{{Cite news |last=Shirley |first=Julie |date=January 6, 2020 |title=Montoya-Lewis sworn in as Washington's first Native American Supreme Court justice |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article239013633.html}}
  • First South Asian female: Kuljinder Dhillon in 2021{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2021 |title=Judge Kuljinder Dhillon |url=https://kingcounty.gov/courts/district-court/locations/Judge%20Dhillon.aspx |website=King County}}
  • First Korean American female (Washington Court of Appeals): Janet Chung in 2022{{Cite web |date=2022-09-01 |title=An unconventional path for the first Korean female judge in higher court |url=https://nwasianweekly.com/2022/09/an-unconventional-path-for-the-first-korean-female-judge-in-higher-court/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Northwest Asian Weekly |language=en-US}}

= Federal judges =

= Attorney General of Washington =

  • First female: Christine Gregoire (1977) from 1993 to 2004{{Cite web|url=https://www.atg.wa.gov/washingtons-attorneys-general-past-and-present|title=Washington's Attorneys General - Past and Present {{!}} Washington State|website=www.atg.wa.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-11-19}}

= Assistant Attorney General =

  • First female: June Fowles in 1939{{Cite book|last=Newell|first=Gordon R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r6gRAQAAIAAJ|title=Rogues, Buffoons & Statesmen|date=1975|publisher=Hangman Press|isbn=978-0-87564-106-5|language=en}}

= Deputy Attorney General =

= United States Attorney =

  • Jenny Durkan (1986):{{Cite news|url=http://q13fox.com/2017/11/08/jenny-durkan-elected-mayor-of-seattle-first-woman-to-hold-the-office-since-1926/|title=Jenny Durkan elected mayor of Seattle, first woman to hold the office since 1926|date=2017-11-09|work=Q13 FOX News|access-date=2018-05-30|language=en-US}} First openly LGBT female appointed as a U.S. Attorney in Washington (2009)
  • Vanessa Waldref:{{Cite web |last=Syed |first=Maleeha |title=WA's new federal judges signify reversal of Trump-era influence {{!}} Crosscut |url=https://crosscut.com/equity/2021/11/was-new-federal-judges-signify-reversal-trump-era-influence |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=crosscut.com |language=en}} First female to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington (2021)

= Assistant United States Attorney =

  • Holly Caudill:{{Cite web |title=Quadriplegic An Inspiration To All She Meets {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/may/28/quadriplegic-an-inspiration-to-all-she-meets/ |access-date=2019-06-28 |website=www.spokesman.com}}{{Cite news |date=1999-05-28 |title=Obituaries |language=en-US |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-28-mn-42037-story.html |access-date=2019-06-28 |issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite web |title=Obituaries in the News |url=https://apnews.com/7b7fe6e65b1a626dfacea27f26ec29f4 |access-date=2019-06-28 |website=AP NEWS}}{{Cite web |title=Judge J. Ben McInturff |url=https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/coa50/index.cfm?fa=home.COAJBenMcInturff#:~:text=Born%20in%201924%2C%20Judge%20Ben,Marines%2C%20Judge%20McInturff%20contracted%20polio. |website=Washington State Court of Appeals}} First female quadriplegic to work as an Assistant United States Attorney in Washington (1995)

= Political Office =

  • First female (Washington State Senate): Reba Hurn (1910) from 1923 to 1930{{Cite web|url=http://www.nostalgiamagazine.net/2018/07/25/reba-hurn-spokanes-first-female-lawyer/|title="Reba" Hurn: Spokane's First Female Lawyer – Nostalgia Magazine|website=www.nostalgiamagazine.net|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-05}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/aug/09/landmarks-monument-dedicated-to-rebecca-hurn-spoka/|title=Landmarks: Monument dedicated to Rebecca Hurn, Spokane's first female lawyer, state's first female senator|work=Spokesman.com|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ghwfDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT146|title=Madam President, Revised Edition: Women Blazing the Leadership Trail|last1=Clift|first1=Eleanor|last2=Brazaitis|first2=Tom|date=2016-05-06|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136705243|language=en}}
  • Jenny Durkan (1986): First openly LGBT female (a lawyer) elected as the Mayor of Seattle, Washington (2017)
  • Laurie Jinkins (1990):{{Cite news|url=https://shadowproof.com/2010/10/30/laurie-jinkins-breaking-the-lesbian-barrier-in-the-washington-state-legislature/|title=Laurie Jinkins: breaking the lesbian barrier in the Washington state legislature - Shadowproof|date=2010-10-30|work=Shadowproof|access-date=2018-06-08|language=en-US}} First openly LGBT female (a lawyer) elected as a Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the Twenty-Seventh District (2011)

= Washington State Bar Association =

  • First female president: Elizabeth “Betty” Bracelin{{Cite web|url=https://nwsidebar.wsba.org/2016/03/15/celebrating-womens-history-month-in-washington/|title=Celebrating Women's History Month in Washington|date=2016-03-15|language=en|access-date=2019-01-03}}
  • First South Asian female president: Sunitha Anjilvel in 2024{{Cite web |title=Washington State’s Sunitha Anjilvel Becomes first South Asian Female President of a State Bar Association |url=https://wsba.org/news-events/media-center/media-releases/washington-state-s-sunitha-anjilvel-becomes-first-south-asian-female-president-of-a-state-bar-association#:~:text=SEATTLE%20%E2%80%94%20Sunitha%20Anjilvel%20has%20made,Sunitha%20Anjilvel |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=wsba.org}}

Firsts in local history

  • Kathryn Ann Mautz:{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/dailycolonist19790512|title=The Daily Colonist (1979-05-12)|date=1979|publisher=University of Victoria}} First female judge in Eastern Washington
  • Charnelle Bjelkengren:{{Cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/apr/10/inslee-appoints-first-female-african-american-judg/|title=Gov. Inslee appoints first female African American judge in Eastern Washington to Spokane County Superior Court {{!}} The Spokesman-Review|website=www.spokesman.com|access-date=2019-04-12}} First African American female judge in Eastern Washington (2019)
  • Carolyn Brown:{{Cite web |title=Benton-County judge, Wenatchee lawyer pegged for Shea replacement |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article32136435.html |access-date=2018-12-24 |website=tri-cityherald |language=en}} First female to serve as a Judge of the Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Washington (1988)
  • Norma Rodriguez:{{Cite web |last=Herald |first=Kristin M. KraemerTri-City |title=Tri-Cities court gets its first Latina judge |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/tri-cities-court-gets-its-first-latina-judge/article_ef6e56bc-8ffc-11ec-8c48-230db38317e6.html |access-date=2022-02-20 |website=The Wenatchee World |language=en}} First Latino American female to serve as a Judge of the Benton-Franklin Superior Court, Washington (2022)
  • Carol Wardell:{{Cite web |title=Carol Wardell, Chelan PUD Attorney retiring, ready to 'take on new challenges' {{!}} Cashmere Valley Record |url=http://www.cashmerevalleyrecord.com/carol-wardell-chelan-pud-attorney-retiring-ready-take-new-challenges |access-date=2018-12-24 |website=www.cashmerevalleyrecord.com |language=en}} First female judge in Chelan and Douglas Counties, Washington (1991)
  • Carol Fuller:{{Cite web |last=Gentzler |first=Sara |date=October 1, 2020 |title=Carol Fuller, first female superior court judge for Mason and Thurston counties, dies at 90 |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article246077085.html |website=The Olympian}} First female to serve as a superior court judge in Mason and Thurston Counties, Washington (1979)
  • Susan Owens:{{Cite web|url=http://www.ptleader.com/stories/pths-students-quiz-supreme-court-justice,8122|title=PTHS students quiz Supreme Court justice|website=Port Townsend Leader|language=en|access-date=2018-12-24}} First female judge in Clallam County, Washington
  • Lauren Erickson:{{Cite web|url=https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/port-angeles-lawyer-becomes-clallam-superior-courts-first-female-judge/|title=Port Angeles attorney becomes Clallam Superior Court's first female judge|last=Gottlieb|first=Paul|date=2019-01-08|website=Peninsula Daily News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-09}} First female appointed as a Judge of the Clallam County Superior Court, Washington (2019)
  • Barbara Johnson:{{Cite web|url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/dec/17/johnson-clark-county-first-woman-judge-retire/|title=Johnson, Clark County's first woman judge, to retire|date=2014-12-17|website=The Columbian|language=en|access-date=2018-12-24}} First female judge in Clark County, Washington (1987)
  • Camara Banfield:{{Cite web|title=Women rule: Recent additions make Clark County Superior Court better reflect community|url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/jan/30/women-rule-recent-additions-make-clark-county-superior-court-better-reflect-community/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=The Columbian|language=en-US}} First African American (female) to serve as a Judge of the Clark County Superior Court (2021)
  • Jill Johanson:{{Cite news|url=http://tdn.com/court-swears-in-first-female-judge/article_d72f0b46-b05c-50b1-8e2b-ca344889d77c.html|title=Court swears in first female judge|last=Jenkins|first=Don|work=Longview Daily News|access-date=2018-01-06|language=en}} First female appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court in Cowlitz County, Washington
  • Eliza Forbes:{{Cite web|url=http://mail.kccucc.org/history/Gleanings_04.php|title=Washington Association Meets in Houghton Church|website=mail.kccucc.org|access-date=2019-07-10}} First female Justice of the Peace in King County, Washington
  • Carmen Otero:{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/State-gets-its-first-Latino-federal-judge-1147569.php|title=State gets its first Latino federal judge|work=seattlepi.com|access-date=2018-05-30}} First Latino American female judge in King County, Washington
  • Susan Amini: First Iranian American (female) to serve as a Judge of the King County Superior Court (2013)
  • Kim Tran:{{Cite web |title=Kim Tran {{!}} Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC |url=https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/bio/kim-tran |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.advancingjustice-aajc.org |language=en}} First female of color to serve as the President of the King County Bar Association (2015)
  • Leah Taguba:{{Cite web |title=Judge Leah Taguba |url=https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/courts/district-court/locations/judge-taguba |website=King County District Court}} First Filipino American female to serve as a Judge of the King County District Court (2021)
  • Leesa Manion:{{Cite web |title=King County Prosecuting Attorney |url=https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/pao/about-king-county/about-pao/team-leadership/king-county-prosecutor |website=King County, Washington}} First (Asian American) female elected to serve as King County Prosecuting Attorney (2022)
  • Leila Robinson Sawtelle (1882):{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalcyclopae02newy |title=The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography: Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women who are Doing the Work and Moulding the Thought of the Present Time |date=1893 |publisher=J. T. White Company |page=[https://archive.org/details/nationalcyclopae02newy/page/293 293] |language=en |quote=Leila Robinson Sawtelle seattle washington lawyer.}} First female lawyer in Seattle, Washington (King County, Washington, 1884)
  • Bella Weretnikow Rosenbaum (1901): First Jewish American female lawyer in Seattle, Washington [King County, Washington]
  • Othilia Carroll Beals:{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Deb |title=Westhillsyde (Allen/Beals House) {{!}} Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum |url=https://olympiahistory.org/westhillsyde-allenbeals-house/ |access-date=2019-07-10 |language=en-US}} First female Justice of the Peace in Seattle, Washington [King County, Washington]
  • C. Kimi Kondo: First Asian American female to serve as a Judge of the Seattle Municipal Court in Washington (c. 1991)
  • Marcine Anderson:{{Cite web|url=https://info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/candidatesonballot/pamphlet/pamphlet.aspx?cid=53315&listtype=FILING&eid=1262|title=Marcine Anderson (King County, Washington)|website=info.kingcounty.gov|access-date=2018-12-10}} First female (and Asian American) elected as a Judge of the Shoreline District Court (King County, Washington; 2010)
  • Betty Fletcher:{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcba.org/about-kcba/mission-history|title=Mission & History|website=www.kcba.org|access-date=2019-01-06}} First female to serve as the President of the South King County Bar Association, Washington (1972)
  • Tracy Flood:{{Cite web|last=Binion|first=Andrew|title=Flood makes Bremerton and Kitsap County history with election to city court|url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2021/11/08/tracy-flood-bremerton-municipal-court-kitsap-history-first-black-judge/6344811001/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=Kitsap Sun|language=en-US}} First African American female judge in Kitsap County, Washington (2021)
  • Jo Anne Alumbaugh (1979):{{Cite web|url=http://www.genealogybuff.com/ucd/webbbs_config.pl/read/4458|title=WASHINGTON - Kittitas County - Miscellaneous Obituaries|last=Cribbs|first=Bill|website=www.genealogybuff.com|access-date=2017-10-15}} First female lawyer in Kittitas County, Washington
  • Joely O’Rourke:{{Cite news|url=http://www.chronline.com/crime/o-rourke-sworn-in-as-first-female-judge-in-lewis/article_507a871a-d76a-11e6-83c4-6f94f070ba0d.html|title=O'Rourke Sworn in as First Female Judge in Lewis County|last=Johnson|first=Natalie|date=January 10, 2017|work=The Chronicle|access-date=2018-01-06|language=en}} First female judge in Lewis County, Washington
  • Helen Whitener (1998): First openly LGBT and African American female to serve as Judge of the Pierce County Superior Court, Washington (2015)
  • Diane Clarkson:{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article71227917.html|title=Pierce County deputy prosecutor to lead local bar association, hopes to diversify group|website=thenewstribune|language=en|access-date=2019-01-07}} First African American female (and African American in general) to serve as the President of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, Washington (2016)
  • Mary Robnett:{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article223691600.html|title=Mary Robnett, Pierce County's first woman prosecutor, sworn in to standing ovation|website=thenewstribune|language=en|access-date=2019-06-27}} First female to serve as the Prosecuting Attorney for Pierce County, Washington (2019)
  • Kay Trumbull (1974):{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/kathryn-trumbull-first-woman-on-county-superior-court-dies/|title=Kathryn Trumbull, first woman on county Superior Court, dies {{!}} HeraldNet.com|date=2017-03-24|work=HeraldNet.com|access-date=2018-01-04|language=en-US}} First female Judge of the Superior Court in Snohomish County, Washington
  • Whitney Rivera:{{Cite web |last=Geschke |first=Will |date=2024-11-05 |title=Rivera defeats Anderson in Snohomish County judge race |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/rivera-defeats-anderson-in-snohomish-county-judge-race/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=HeraldNet.com |language=en-US}} First Asian American Pacific Islander female to serve as a Judge of the Snohomish County Superior Court (2024)
  • Reba Hurn (1910): First female lawyer in Spokane, Washington [Spokane County, Washington]
  • Kathleen Taft (1935):{{Cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/dec/24/lawyer-kathleen-taft-dies/|title=Lawyer Kathleen Taft dies {{!}} The Spokesman-Review|website=www.spokesman.com|access-date=2019-07-16}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5jVPAQAAIAAJ|title=Washington State Bar News|date=1996|publisher=Washington State Bar Association|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/may/15/raising-the-bar/|title=Raising the bar {{!}} The Spokesman-Review|website=www.spokesman.com|access-date=2019-07-16}} First female judicial officer (a commissioner) in Spokane County, Washington (1950)
  • Kathleen O’Connor (1975):{{Cite news|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/jan/28/first-female-judge-in-spokane-county-superior-cour/|title=First female judge in Spokane County Superior Court retiring this week|work=Spokesman.com|access-date=2018-01-04|language=en}} First female Judge of the Superior Court of Spokane County, Washington
  • Gloria Ochoa-Bruck:{{Cite web |last=Denkmann |first=Libby |last2=Cowan |first2=Alec |last3=Burrows |first3=Jason |date=2022-12-28 |title=Sound it Out: |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/sound-it-out |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=www.kuow.org |language=en}} First Latino American female judge in Spokane County, Washington
  • Charnelle Bjelkengren: First African American female to become a Judge of the Superior Court of Spokane County, Washington (2019)
  • Julia W. Ker (1912):{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCgqAAAAYAAJ|title=Angels and Amazons: A Hundred Years of American Women|last=Gillmore|first=Inez Haynes|date=1933|publisher=Doubleday, Doran, Incorporated|language=en}} First female lawyer in Olympia, Washington. She was also the first female police judge in Washington and the U.S. (1926). [Thurston County, Washington]
  • Sally Elke:{{Cite web|url=https://www.thurstontalk.com/2019/05/19/people-in-public-service-sally-eke/|title=People in Public Service: Sally Eke|last=Crooks|first=Jennifer|date=2019-05-19|website=ThurstonTalk|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-10}} First female Justice of the Peace in Tumwater, Washington (1942) [Thurston County, Washington]
  • Carol Fuller: First female to serve as a superior court judge in Mason and Thurston Counties, Washington (1979)
  • Aurel M. Kelly (1949):{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4jVPAQAAIAAJ&q=%22she+was+the+first+woman+lawyer+in%22+%22county%22|title=Washington State Bar News|date=1988|publisher=Washington State Bar Association.|language=en}} First female lawyer in Walla Walla, Washington [Walla Walla County, Washington]
  • Sandy Flores (2008):{{Cite news|url=https://www.whitman.edu/newsroom/archive/2012/sandy-flores-08-is-first-latina-lawyer-sworn-into-the-bar-in-walla-walla|title=Sandy Flores '08 is first Latina lawyer sworn into the bar in Walla Walla|date=2012-12-03|work=Whitman College|access-date=2017-10-15|language=en}} First Latin American female lawyer in Walla Walla County, Washington
  • Patricia Fulton:{{Cite web |last=Burnham |first=Jeremy |date=2025-01-11 |title=Patricia Fulton becomes Walla Walla County's first woman superior court judge |url=https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/courts_and_crime/patricia-fulton-becomes-walla-walla-countys-first-woman-superior-court-judge/article_f179de02-cfc5-11ef-ab61-9762bef7d3c8.html#:~:text=Patricia%20Fulton,%20a%20former%20defense,10. |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Union-Bulletin.com |language=en}} First female to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court of Walla Walla County, Washington (2025)
  • Elizabeth M. Balas:{{Cite web |date=July 9, 2010 |title=Elizabeth M. Balas |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/130E4E2366DF7A20&f=basic |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=infoweb.newsbank.com}} First female lawyer in Whatcom County, Washington
  • Raquel Montoya-Lewis:{{Cite news|url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article22268895.html|title=Whatcom County's first Native American judge to be sworn in Friday|work=bellinghamherald|access-date=2018-01-23|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/14/native-american-to-be-sworn-in-as-whatcom-county-j/|title=Native American to be sworn in as Whatcom County judge|work=The Washington Times|access-date=2018-01-23|language=en-US}} First Native American (Pueblo of Isleta/Pueblo of Laguna) female judge in Whatcom County, Washington (2015)
  • Sonia Rodriguez True:{{Cite web|last=Herald-Republic|first=JANELLE RETKA Yakima|title=Rodriguez True becomes 1st Latino to serve as Yakima County Superior Court commissioner|url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/rodriguez-true-becomes-1st-latino-to-serve-as-yakima-county-superior-court-commissioner/article_423ac32d-4463-5ecf-8fd6-9e193817130a.html|access-date=2022-02-22|website=Yakima Herald-Republic|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=MEYERS |first=DONALD W. |title=Sonia Rodriguez True formally sworn in as 1st Latina Yakima Superior Court judge |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/sonia-rodriguez-true-formally-sworn-in-as-1st-latina-yakima-superior-court-judge/article_5a2c5094-6171-11ed-b2d7-cba4bf0b2e5a.html |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Yakima Herald-Republic |language=en}} First Latino American (female) to serve as a Commissioner (2020) and Judge (2022) of the Yakima County Superior Court

See also {{anchor}}

Other topics of interest

References {{anchor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:First women lawyers and judges in Washington}}

Washington

Category:Washington (state) law-related lists

Category:History of women in Washington (state)

Lawyers and judges

Category:Washington (state) lawyers

Category:Legal history of Washington (state)

Law