Justice Mary Yu Announces Retirement from the Washington Supreme Court at the end of 2025

Justice Mary Yu Announces Retirement from the Washington Supreme Court at the end of 2025

Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, 68, has announced her intention to retire from the Washington Supreme Court effective December 31, 2025.

First elected to the Court in 2014 following an appointment by Governor Jay Inslee, Yu announced her decision to colleagues Thursday afternoon. She also advised Governor Bob Ferguson of her decision to retire by letter.

"I have had the good fortune of serving the people of our great State as a judge for 25 years and have cherished every single moment of such service. I was blessed with having extraordinary colleagues all along the way and so, it is not an easy decision to step away," said Justice Yu.

"I have spent a lot of time mentoring and teaching those younger than me to embrace life, lead, and to make a difference. As a result of those relationships, I have confidence in the next generation. They cherish the rule of law, and they will defend and protect the courts that I love so deeply," she continued.

Yu joined the Supreme Court after more than 14 years as a trial court judge in King County Superior Court where she presided over a wide variety of criminal, civil, and juvenile cases, and presided over hundreds of adoptions and other family law matters, making her one of the most senior judges in Washington State.

Prior to becoming a judge, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff to King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and as a deputy in the Criminal and Civil Divisions.

With an extensive record of service both on and off the bench, Chief Justice Debra Stephens said, "Justice Yu has been such a dynamic leader during her tenure on this Court. From her dedication to mentoring our next generation of lawyers, to championing racial justice through her leadership of the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, she has served the people of Washington with passion, intellect and boundless energy."

Yu teaches at Seattle University School of Law and serves as Jurist in Residence; and she also served as co-chair of the Washington State Bar Association/University of Washington Law School Leadership Institute. In 2021 Seattle University School of Law established the Justice Mary I. Yu Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Yu was raised in Bridgeport, a South Side neighborhood in Chicago, by immigrant parents; her mother came from Mexico and her father from China. She is the first in her family to graduate from college. She received her B.A. from Dominican University, her M.A. in Religious Studies from Mundelein College of Loyola University in Chicago, and her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

She is the first Asian, the first Latina, and the first member of the LGBTQ community to serve on the Washington State Supreme Court.

A new justice will be appointed by Governor Ferguson for Supreme Court position 1. An election will be held in the 2026 general election to fulfill the remainder of Justice Yu's term, which is set to expire on December 31, 2028.

For a full biography of Justice Yu, please visit www.courts.wa.gov.