Governor Ferguson appoints Theo Angelis to Washington State Supreme Court

OLYMPIA - Governor Bob Ferguson made his second appointment to the Washington State Supreme Court today, announcing that Theo Angelis will replace retiring Justice Barbara Madsen.

Governor Ferguson made the announcement today at the Temple of Justice. Photos of the event are available here. Video is available here.

Angelis is an accomplished attorney with 25 years of legal experience. He currently focuses on appellate work, intellectual property litigation, and general litigation as a partner at K&L Gates. Angelis also engages in extensive pro bono work, for which he has received numerous awards, including the American Civil Liberties Union's Humanitarian Award for his work on behalf of unrepresented minors in immigration proceedings. Angelis worked with a broad team of lawyers to challenge the federal government's practice of requiring children to represent themselves in immigration proceedings if they couldn't afford counsel.

Angelis is a past president of the Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington (MELAW), and will be the first Justice of Middle Eastern descent on our state Supreme Court

"Theo's impressive qualifications and accomplishments speak for themselves," Governor Ferguson said. "His colleagues praise his legal expertise, humility and integrity. Even opposing counsel who faced him in court describe Theo as 'the smartest lawyer I've ever faced,' and a decent, honorable person. He will serve the people of Washington well on our highest court."

"When I chose the law as my calling, I promised myself that I would always focus on how to use the law to help those in need," Angelis said. "Throughout my career, I have worked to promote access to the courts and a genuine commitment to the Rule of Law. Thank you to Governor Ferguson for the opportunity to continue my service on our state's highest court, and thank you to Justice Madsen for your pioneering work making the courts more equitable for all Washingtonians."

Angelis will succeed Justice Barbara Madsen following her retirement on April 3. His appointment will be effective the following day. Justice Madsen sent notice of her retirement to the Governor's Office on Jan. 30, and publicly announced her retirement on Feb. 2.

"Justice Madsen made history as the first woman ever popularly elected to the Washington State Supreme Court," Governor Ferguson said. "She has devoted her entire career to public service. After more than three decades on the court, she leaves a lasting legacy on Washington state jurisprudence. I thank Justice Madsen for her service to our state."

In order to make the appointment in time to allow a smooth transition before Justice Madsen's retirement, Governor Ferguson and his team engaged in a thorough, accelerated vetting process. This process included many hours of interviews with multiple candidates, and a review of extensive written materials by the candidates. It also included reaching out to numerous individuals beyond references provided by the candidates, including lawyers who have faced them in court, and judges they have appeared before.

Lawyers who opposed Angelis in court described him as "the smartest lawyer I've ever faced" and also a decent and honorable person. Judges called him a "superstar," "extraordinary," and a hard worker who is always well prepared, with a deep knowledge of the facts and law.

Angelis' family inspired him to aim high and inspired him to serve others. His father emigrated from Greece as a teenager, and his mother's parents were refugees from Turkey, expelled from their country in the 1920s.

Angelis has degrees from Claremont McKenna College, the London School of Economics, Oxford University, and Yale Law School. He clerked on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Angelis has won a number of awards recognizing his work, including: the Northwest Immigrant Right's Project's Amicus Award; the King County Bar Association's Mentor of the Year Award; the Kids in Need of Defense Founder's Award; and St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church's Citizen of the Year Award.

Angelis has extensive appellate experience. He has appeared regularly in state, federal, and administrative courts, on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants - giving him a broad perspective on how the justice system operates.

He works with Kids In Need of Defense, an organization that ensures children have high-quality legal representation in immigration court. He has represented multiple children and adults seeking asylum - in one case, fighting for eight years until his client finally achieved permanent residency.

Angelis led a case representing a client detained by ICE for seven months, even though the client had become a naturalized citizen while serving in the U.S. Army. Ultimately, the Department of Homeland Security settled the case and issued an apology letter to Angelis' client.

Angelis has made extensive contributions to Washington's legal community. He was part of the team that successfully advocated for the Washington State Bar Exam to cover Indian Law, ensuring all lawyers licensed in our state have an understanding of this important area of the law. For more than 10 years, Angelis served as editor-in-chief of the Washington Lawyers Practice Manual, a resource for lawyers whose sales fund the King County Bar Association's pro bono legal clinics. He has also served as a trustee of the King County Bar Association.