New Washington Supreme Court Justice Colleen Melody to be Sworn in January 21 at Temple of Justice

New Washington Supreme Court Justice Colleen M. Melody will be sworn in to office on Wednesday, January 21 in a public ceremony in the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

While seating is very limited in the courtroom, the inauguration will be live-streamed by TVW and recorded for later broadcast.

A native of Spokane, Melody is the 100th justice to serve on the state Supreme Court. She was appointed to the Court by Gov. Bob Ferguson following the retirement of Justice Mary I. Yu at the end of 2024. She will be sworn in by Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens.

"The Court looks forward to formally welcoming Justice Melody at this ceremony," Stephens said. "While she has been working actively as a justice since January 1st, this ceremony officially recognizes her new role on the Court and allows us to express our appreciation for the skills and experience she brings, and to celebrate alongside her family, friends and other state leaders."

Prior to her appointment to the Court, Melody served as chief of the Civil Rights Division in the Washington State Attorney General's Office for 11 years. She has also served as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, and as a law clerk to the Honorable Ronald M. Gould of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law.

The ceremony will include comments from Gov. Ferguson, Justice Yu, Attorney General Nick Brown and Deputy Attorney General Todd Bowers.

Visitors to the Temple of Justice are asked to enter through the North Entrance (the side facing the Law Enforcement Memorial), where they will undergo security screening. The North Entrance will also serve as the primary entrance for attendees requiring ADA access. Click here for a Capitol Campus map to locate the North Entrance of the building. Parking on the Capitol Campus is very limited (see web page on traveling to and parking at the Campus).

All members of the public will undergo security screening, which involves passing through metal detectors, emptying pockets into containers, and having bags visually inspected. Weapons are not permitted inside the Temple of Justice under state law, see RCW 9.41.305; Carrying Weapons on Campus | Washington State Capitol Campus.