Colleen Melody

Colleen Melody is an American lawyer and a judicial appointee to the Washington Supreme Court.

Early Life and Education

Melody is a native of Spokane, Washington.[1] She received her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Washington and graduated first in her law school class.[2]

Melody began her legal career at the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, then returned to Washington to lead the state Attorney General’s Wing Luke Civil Rights Division.[3] As an Assistant Attorney General, Melody helped lead Washington’s successful challenge to Executive Order 13769, President Donald Trump’s first “Muslim ban."[4][5]

Appointment to Washington Supreme Court

In November 2025, Washington governor Bob Ferguson appointed Melody to serve as an associate justice of the state’s Supreme Court beginning in 2026.[2] Melody will fill the seat of retiring Justice Mary Yu until November 2026, when a statewide election will determine who will serve out the remainder of Yu’s term.[6] Melody has not previously served as a judge.[7]

References

  1. ^ Mitchell Roland (November 24, 2025). "Spokane native Colleen Melody selected for state Supreme Court". The Spokesman-Review.
  2. ^ a b "Governor Ferguson appoints Spokane native Colleen Melody to Washington Supreme Court". Washington State Office of the Governor. November 24, 2025.
  3. ^ "Attorney General Ferguson dedicates Civil Rights Unit to trailblazer Wing Luke". Washington State Office of the Attorney General. September 17, 2015.
  4. ^ Simone Carter (November 24, 2025). "Gov. Bob Ferguson unveils first appointment to WA state Supreme Court". The Olympian.
  5. ^ "AILA Presents the Washington v. Trump Litigation Team with the 2017 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award". American Immigration Lawyers Association. June 19, 2017.
  6. ^ "Justice Mary Yu Announces Retirement from the Washington Supreme Court at the end of 2025". Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts. September 11, 2025.
  7. ^ Jim Brunner (November 24, 2025). "Gov. Ferguson taps former AG civil rights chief for WA Supreme Court". The Seattle Times.
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