For the first time ever, the Washington Supreme Court has a Justice with Mexican heritage.
Steven C. Gonzalez was sworn in as the state’s newest justice Monday morning. Gonzalez, a former King County Superior Court Judge, was appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire in November and is the first Mexican-American to serve on the bench since its formation in 1889.
“Thank you all for helping to make this day so special,” he told an audience of a few hundred people who attended the swearing-in ceremony in Hall of Justice.
“I hope to stay here for a very long time,” he joked.
The Washington Supreme Court isn’t exactly known for its ethnic diversity. Of all 94 justices to have served only Justice Charles Z. Smith was non-white. Smith’s mother was African American and his father, a Cuban man. Smith served from 1988-2002.
“I'm really excited that the governor has listened to the minority groups in Washington who have said its time,” said Chief Justice Barbara Madsen. “I think he (Gonzalez) will have a perspective the rest of us don’t have. He will bring a sensitivity.”
Gonzalez’ mother Joanne, wife Michelle and several members of the Gonzalez family were also at the ceremony.
“I challenge anyone to be more proud of him than me,” said Joanne Gonzalez. “He may have had to work harder to get here, but he did it.”
Gonzalez will be forced to run for election in November.
González was first appointed as a judge to the King County Superior Court bench in March 2002 and voters elected him that fall. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.
From 1997 to 2002, González was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the state's Western District. He served on the Board of Directors of El Centro de la Raza and on the steering committee of the Northwest Minority Job Fair. Before becoming a judge, he volunteered as a pro bono attorney for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
González earned his J.D. from the University of California at Berkley's law school and was admitted to the Washington state bar in 1991
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