Janet S. Chung

Professional career

• Judge Janet Chung serves on Division One of the Washington Court of Appeals
• practiced employment law and business litigation at law firms in Washington, D.C., and Seattle, and served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal in Houston, Texas
• The first Korean American female judge to serve on Washington State’s Court of Appeals

Education

Additional information

• Her current term extends through January 12, 2031, following her successful election in the November 5, 2024 general election
• Appointed to the court in March 2022 by Governor Jay Inslee and officially assumed office on April 25, 2022
• Advocacy Director at Columbia Legal Services
• Judge Chung’s appointment is notable not only for her professional accomplishments but also for her role in diversifying the judiciary and serving as an inspiration for women and immigrants pursuing legal careers
• Before her judicial appointment, Judge Chung had a distinguished career in public interest law and advocacy
• Judge Chung has taught legal writing and advocacy at Seattle University School of Law and has been actively involved in civic and professional organizations, including the City of Seattle’s Labor Standards Advisory Commission, the Gender Equity in Pay Task Force, and as President of Washington Women Lawyers
• focusing on policy advocacy and impact litigation for underserved populations, including incarcerated individuals and agricultural workers
• representing District 1
• She is a graduate of Yale University and Columbia University School of Law
• Prior to that, she was Legal and Legislative Counsel at Legal Voice, where she advanced gender justice through litigation, legislative advocacy, and drafting key laws such as reproductive parity acts and equal pay legislation
• She has also contributed to Asian Pacific Islander civic empowerment initiatives
• Born to Korean immigrant parents, she is a first-generation lawyer and has lived in Washington State for over 25 years