Colleen M. Melody at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Colleen M. Melody
Justice · Supreme Court of Washington
Biography
Professional career
- The 100th Justice of the Washington Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson on November 24, 2025, and sworn in January 1, 2026, to replace retiring Justice Mary Yu
- Before joining the Supreme Court, Melody served 11 years as Chief of the Civil Rights Division in the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (2015–2025).
- The inaugural recipient of the Gates Public Service Law Scholarship and later held the role of a law clerk to Ninth Circuit Judge Ronald M. Gould
- Official bio: Washington State Courts – Justice Colleen M. Melody
Education
- Melody is a graduate of the University of Washington (BA) and the University of Washington School of Law (JD, valedictorian).
Additional information
- Currently running in a special general election on November 3, 2026, to serve out the remainder of Yu’s term.
- Melody assumes Position 1 on the Washington Supreme Court, with a term ending January 11, 2027.
- Legal Foundation of Washington’s Charles A. Goldmark Award (2018)
- Efforts to end birthright citizenship and repeal DACA
- Prior to leading the state’s Civil Rights Division, she was a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., bringing lawsuits against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and disability.
- Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Melody lives in rural Western Washington with her husband and two daughters.
- In interviews, she has described herself as a “nerd” who enjoys research, writing, and the technical aspects of legal arguments.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Washington GR 16 allows video recording, audio recording, and still photography by the news media in courtrooms only after the judge has expressly granted permission.
Video and audio recording and still photography by the news media are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions, provided (1) that permission shall have first been expressly granted by the judgeWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Statewide
If a Washington judge limits courtroom photography or recording, GR 16 requires particularized findings on the record and treats open access as presumed.
Open access is presumed; limitations on access must be supported by reasons found by the judge to be sufficiently compelling to outweigh that presumptionWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Supreme Court of Washington
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Washington State Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View Washington State Courts official judicial roster ↗Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗