By Assunta Ng
Northwest Asia Weekly
Judge Mary Yu and Washington State Court of Appeals Judge Linda Coburn, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Lin, and Washington State Court of Appeals Judge John Chun. (Photo by George Liu)
The portrait of Justice Mary Yu is a thousand words.
It shows that the Washington State Supreme Court system has been dominated by whites and men for nearly a century. This is changing.
Now, the courts are diverse, with women in the majority, seven women and two men.
The portrait was recently unveiled at the Seattle University (SU) School of Law on November 3 and reflects Yu’s journey, not only in justice, but also in diversity, family history, and service.
“It’s weird to see this portrait of myself—a bit embarrassing, but every time I see it, I see my ancestors,” said Yu, who is of Chinese and Mexican descent. “I saw the dream of leading them to this country. Although seeing myself in this portrait has a strange feeling, I forced myself to get rid of it because it represents something bigger than me. It represents a Immigration story.”
Yu was appointed in 2014 and re-elected in 2016, representing many firsts of the Washington Supreme Court-including being the first Asian, the first Latino, the first woman of color, and the first LGBTQ Judge.
Scholarship recipient Erin Lewis (left) and Judge Mary Yu (photograph: George Liu)
Yu’s services are extensive, powerful and influential. She has served in the Gates Public Service Project of the University of Washington Law School for four years, and has been committed to becoming a mock trial judge at Seattle Girls’ School for the past 14 years. On and off the bench, she mentored young lawyers, legal clerks, and students. In 21 years, she has mentored 250 law graduates, including several legal assistants to her and other Supreme Court judges. Some lawyers are now elected officials, prosecutors and prominent lawyers of large companies.
“[The portrait] It represents the opportunity for everyone and the importance of the relationship between mentor and apprentice,” Yu said. Invest in my mentor as a person, a lawyer, and a judge.
“Tutors like Norm Maleng, Ruth Woo, Bobbe Bridge, and friends like Anne Levinson, Lisa Brodoff, Sharon Sakamoto… They taught me to have confidence and courage, and boldly assert that people like me must be in this world There is a voice and a place.”
Justice Mary Yu (center) with Seattle University President Eduardo M. Penalver (right) and Chief Justice Steven Gonzalez (photograph: George Liu)
Yu also admitted her support from legal clerks and interns as well as “students-they didn’t realize how much they taught me law, relationships, and the world”.
Annette Clark, Dean of SU Law School, shared the story of being an outstanding resident jurist. In an orientation event for law students, Clark said that she and many speakers can be replaced, but not others. She will spare no effort to talk to students-once, Yu interrupted her vacation and gave a speech in a friend’s bathroom, where they had to set up proper lighting and backgrounds.
In addition to her portrait, Su also awarded Yu Yu in her name, and “recognizes everything she represents to those who have never dreamed that someone like them can become a justice of the state Supreme Court.”
Clark said that the scholarship is a contribution to Justice Yu’s encouragement to the next generation of justice advocates.
“Judge Yu is unwavering in his commitment to building a better and more diverse judicial system in our state,” Clark said.
The $100,000 donation scholarship under his name is the result of the generous donation of SU supporters.
“I am honored to receive the Justice Mary Yu Scholarship,” said Erin Lewis of Asian descent, who was the first recipient of the Justice Yu Scholarship. “Judge Yu’s service to the community fills me with optimism and encourages me to continue to work hard to create a more just future.
As a non-traditional, queer, first-generation advanced degree seeker of people of color, Judge Yu represents a commitment to those who really live. “
“Women of color can only enrich our community and our thinking,” Yu said. “Because racism and sexism still exist, each of us must do our best to support women of color because they choose to enter law school and enter our career. Support for these women begins with the guidance of law school. I It’s not enough-coaching means cultivating and walking with another person on their journey towards greatness.”
Chief Justice Stephen Gonzalez is the brainchild behind Yu’s portrait.
Gonzalez and then old friends. Their friendship began with their colleagues in the King County High Court.
Gonzalez praised his young son for inspiring him to show justice for people of color. In 2011, when Gonzalez was sworn in as the justices, he took his family to visit the official offices of the nine justices-the Temple of Justice.
The son saw the portrait of the white male judge and asked, “Why are you not like us?” Gonzalez told KNKX in a radio interview, “For me, I think, well, this is an important question. They did not, but the situation is changing.”
This insight inspired Gonzalez to change. Eight years ago, he linked the late Justice Charles Z. Smith with the respected artist Alfredo Arreguin to create a portrait of Smith. By adding the most recent portrait of the judge on the wall, it started a new tradition in the gallery of the temple.
Yu’s portrait is also the work of Arekin, who lives in Seattle, now 86 years old. He has won many local, national and international awards including Mexico, France and Spain. Funding for Yu’s portrait is provided by minority lawyers’ associations such as the Asian Bar Association, Q-Law, Latino/Latino Bar Association, and Loren Miller Bar.
After the reconstruction is completed in three years, Yu’s portrait will be hung in the temple. The court also commissioned a portrait of Gonzalez. Every time a judge retires, their photos are posted on the wall outside the clerk’s office next to the court. However, because some parts of the temple are not open to the public, the public may not be able to see all the portraits.
When asked what Gonzalez’s son thinks of his father’s work, “He said that if I keep my promise, things will get better,” Gonzalez said. “I think with the new portrait, the Supreme Court is like a more inclusive place where all children can dream about the future.”
Assunta can be reached assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
