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Gov. Bob Ferguson Makes First Washington Supreme Court Appointment
Colleen Melody, known for leading major civil rights cases including protecting nearly 20,000 Washington DACA recipients, will join the state Supreme Court in 2026 after Justice Yu retires.
- On Monday, Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed civil rights attorney Colleen Melody to the Washington State Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by Justice Mary Yu's retirement, with Melody starting in 2026.
- Ferguson created the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division in 2015 and hired Colleen Melody to lead it, where she grew the unit to 35 lawyers, investigators, and staff.
- In high‑profile suits, Melody successfully challenged the 2017 travel ban and protected Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, preserving status for nearly 20,000 Washington Dreamers, Ferguson wrote.
- Next fall, Colleen Melody must run for election to fill the remainder of Justice Yu's unexpired term through 2028, reflecting Washington's system for filling judicial vacancies by gubernatorial appointment.
- Melody previously served four years as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and graduated first in her class from the University of Washington School of Law.
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Gov. Ferguson appoints civil rights attorney Colleen Melody to state Supreme Court
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Gov. Bob Ferguson makes his pick for WA Supreme Court seat • Washington State Standard
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed Colleen Melody to the state Supreme Court on Nov. 24, 2025. Melody, who leads civil rights division of the state Attorney General's Office, will assume her seat following the retirement of Justice Mary Yu at the end of the year. (Photo by Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard) Colleen Melody said she’s done interviews for two jobs in the past 12 years. Bob Ferguson conducted both. About a decade ago, Fe…
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