In her decade of constructing the state lawyer basic’s workplace’s civil rights division, Colleen Melody litigated circumstances in at the least 20 Washington state counties, in any respect ranges of appeals courts, and inside myriad corners of regulation. Now, as she runs to defend her Jan. 1 appointment to the Washington Supreme Court docket, Melody is the Place 1 race’s finest candidate, demonstrating a deep data of the state’s labyrinthine authorized system.
Melody, 43, is a meticulous lawyer with a formidable curiosity and fervour for even the smallest and most technical particulars. A Mariners fan who says she still keeps score by hand throughout video games, Melody was ready for deep discussions on most each case the editorial board initiated, not like her opponents.
A Spokane native, Melody developed the lawyer basic’s workplace’s civil rights division, together with having a direct hand in successfully challenging the Trump administration’s journey ban on these from Muslim-majority international locations. Gov. Bob Ferguson, additionally her boss when he was lawyer basic, picked her to exchange Justice Mary Yu earlier this yr.
Her colleagues don’t have any doubts about Melody’s skills both, as she’s earned endorsements from all the Supreme Court docket bench, in addition to retired justices Yu, Barbara Madsen, Gerry Alexander and Bobbe Bridge.
A member of the court docket’s rules committee, Melody can also be making good on the required promise to shed extra mild and convey extra public involvement into the court docket’s work, together with on bail reform.
Melody faces Scott Edwards, a companion at Seattle’s Ballard Spahr regulation agency and an adjunct tax regulation professor on the College of Washington; and Laura Christensen Colberg, a household regulation lawyer and Snohomish County professional tem court docket commissioner.
Her opponents solid two primary complaints about Melody, neither of that are credible. Colberg takes situation with Melody’s many Democratic endorsers, together with Gov. Ferguson; but Melody’s brushes with excessive rating members of different branches of presidency aren’t unavoidable as a longtime public service lawyer. She will be able to, and will, recuse herself when conflicts of curiosity come up; however having expertise with excessive profile circumstances is an asset, not a legal responsibility.
Edwards takes situation with the courts’ many gubernatorial appointees serving on the court docket, all having been chosen by Democrats for greater than 40 years. That criticism rings true however isn’t any fault of Melody’s. He additionally believes the court docket has deviated from its position in following precedent into making legislative-like coverage, however couldn’t furnish a lot proof of that conduct to the editorial board.
Melody defended the court docket’s practices and denied they’ve veered into the legislative department.
“After all the court docket ought to keep in its lane, and never veer into coverage, unnecessarily,” Melody informed the editorial board.
She certainly lists many endorsements from Democrats lively in state politics. If elected to the court docket, she ought to use additional warning from the bench, and off it, to weigh circumstances apolitically — so she doesn’t danger an look, perceived or actual, that she is within the pocket of the Democratic institution.
Nonetheless, her talent is unmatched within the race.
As retired Justice Yu as soon as said, the court docket is “9 folks duking it out,” to achieve its authorized opinions. Melody possesses a pointy mind and deep authorized data which are essential for anybody serving as a member of the state’s highest court docket. She’s essentially the most certified of these working for the Place 1 seat.
