First woman popularly elected to WA Supreme Court will retire after 33 years
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- Justice Barbara Madsen, first woman popularly elected to WA Supreme Court, will retire.
- Gov. Bob Ferguson will appoint Madsen’s replacement before her term ends in January 2029.
- Madsen long advocated for diversity in the legal system; plans to write and teach.
Washington state Supreme Court Justice Barbara A. Madsen announced Monday that she will retire in early April.
A Feb. 2 news release notes that Madsen was the first woman to be popularly elected to the high court in 1992. From 2010 to 2017, she served as chief justice, and she won reelection to the Supreme Court five times.
Madsen told Gov. Bob Ferguson in a letter that she leaves the role with “immense gratitude and humility for the opportunity to be part of the fabric of this great state.”
“My commitment to the rule of law and to the future of our outstanding judiciary remain as strong as the day I assumed the role of judge 38 years ago,” she continued. “I will continue to contribute in different ways because I believe it is time to pass the gavel, making way for new ideas and the next generation of great judges.”
Ferguson will now appoint someone to replace Madsen, whose term doesn’t expire until January 2029.
The first-term governor said in a news release that Madsen leaves a lasting legacy.
“I want to express my deep appreciation to Justice Madsen for her lifetime of service to the people of Washington and the rule of law,” Ferguson said.
The governor anticipates appointing someone by April 3 — Madsen’s retirement date — and is immediately starting the process.
This comes after then-Justice Mary Yu announced her retirement last fall; Ferguson chose Colleen Melody to fill that position.
A Renton native, Madsen obtained degrees from the University of Washington and Gonzaga School of Law, according to a news release. During her legal career, she worked as a public defender and sought to boost opportunities for people of color and women.
The release notes that she ran for the state Supreme Court after watching U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ appointment and the gender bias endured by Thomas’ accuser, Anita Hill. That resonated with Madsen, who saw similar legal-profession bias in the state.
“The system needed a close look at itself and how it treated women and people of color,” she said in the news release. “That could only happen with diverse perspectives in the room.”
Madsen has four children with her husband, Donald, and one of their kids, Hillary Madsen, today serves as a judge on the King County Superior Court, the release states. The retiring justice intends to write, teach and spend time with family.
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