Whatcom judges give high marks for Montoya-Lewis’ appointment to state Supreme Court

By Denver Pratt and Rachel La Corte Associated Press

The Bellingham Herald

December 04, 2019 02:40 PM

Colleagues in Whatcom County said while they will be sad to see her go, they weren’t surprised when Gov. appointed Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis to the state Supreme Court on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

“She’s a smart judge, a pragmatic judge. She’s wonderful to work with and has a great demeanor on the bench, people listen to her. I think it’s a wonderful choice (Inslee) made, but I’m not surprised he chose her at all,” Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Lee Grochmal said in an interview with The Bellingham Herald.

Montoya-Lewis, 51, will be sworn in next month to fulfill the remaining year of Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst’s term, and the seat will be open for election in 2020. Montoya- Lewis, who is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta and a descendant of the Pueblo of Laguna Indian tribes, was among a dozen applicants for Fairhurst’s position.

Montoya-Lewis said in a prepared statement that she was honored by the appointment.

“I have served as a judge for 20 years, in tribal courts and in Superior Court, and I know the struggles and challenges that land people in front of our hardworking judges at every level of our judicial system,” Montoya-Lewis said. “I bring each of the stories I have heard over my career to being a Supreme Court Justice and I hope to honor and serve the people, my colleagues, my ancestors, and my family with the integrity and honor each of them have shown me over these many years.”

Inslee said Montoya-Lewis is the first Native American justice to serve on the state’s high court.

“Because Judge Montoya-Lewis is Native American, many will focus on the historic nature of this appointment,” Inslee said in a prepared statement. “And it’s entirely appropriate to do so. But I want the record to show that Judge Montoya-Lewis is the kind of exceptional judge I want serving on the highest court in our state because she is the best person for the job.” Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis was appointed to the State Supreme Court in the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Campus in Olympia on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Tony Overman [email protected]

In early October, Fairhurst announced she would retire from the nine-member court in January as she battles a third round of cancer. Justice Debra Stephens was elected by her fellow members on the Supreme Court to serve as chief justice, and will be sworn into her new role in January.

Montoya-Lewis is currently one of four Superior Court Judges in Whatcom County, serving alongside Grochmal, Rob Olson and Deborra Garrett. Montoya-Lewis was previously appointed to the superior court bench by Inslee and ran unopposed for re- election in 2015 and 2016. Inslee’s legal team is working on filling the vacancy Montoya-Lewis’ appointment will leave on the Whatcom County Superior Court bench, but it’s unclear exactly when the position may be filled, according to Tara Lee, Inslee’s spokesperson.

A strong communicator

Grochmal said Montoya-Lewis understands justice and fairness and is committed to those principles, which she believes caught the governor’s attention. Grochmal, who was appointed to bench in February, said Montoya-Lewis has been her mentor while serving on the bench. Grochmal said Montoya-Lewis is a strong communicator with all those who appear in front of her, which Grochmal says she tries to emulate.

Others echoed Grochmal’s sentiments that they were happy for Montoya-Lewis, but that her absence would be a loss for Whatcom County’s court system. Whatcom County Public Defender Starck Follis said he too wasn’t surprised Inslee chose Montoya-Lewis for the bench. He said in addition to being a strong trial judge, Montoya-Lewis has excelled in handling the county’s drug court. He said he expected some tears to be shed over her loss.

“It’s unfortunate to lose a judge who only served a few years here. She’s bright, she’s articulate, she is respectful to all those who come before her and I can’t think of a negative thing to say about her as a Superior Court judge,” Follis said in an interview with The Herald. “We’re sorry to see her go, but happy for her future.”

Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis greets her fellow Washington State Supreme Court justices following her appointment by Governor Jay Inslee in the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Campus in Olympia on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. Tony Overman [email protected] Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Richey said Montoya-Lewis has all the characteristics that anyone would want in a judge in that she presided well over difficult cases, made good decisions and treated everyone fairly.

“When people were in front of her, regardless of who you were, you felt you were heard, and that’s one of the most important things you can do as a judge. She’s uniquely good at doing that,” Richey said in an interview with The Herald. “I’m thrilled she’s going to be our next Supreme Court justice.”

Garrett, who has served alongside Montoya-Lewis on the Whatcom bench since her appointment, said Montoya-Lewis has confidence and isn’t afraid to make difficult decisions. Montoya-Lewis sees the big picture and has a good sense of how the law affects people and the ramifications a decision could have, Garrett said.

“Judge Montoya-Lewis is an excellent judge and is extremely intelligent and thoughtful. While she has done well on the trial court bench, I think she will shine on the Supreme Court bench,” Garrett said in an interview with The Herald. I think her experience will be invaluable in the appellate policy-making, precedent-making role that the Supreme Court plays in our legal system.”

Educating about bias

Before her appointment to the superior court bench, Montoya-Lewis served as the chief judge for the Nooksack and Upper Skagit Indian Tribes and worked as an associate professor for Western Washington University for more than 12 years. She also previously served with the Lummi Nation Tribal Court, and served as a judge for the Northwest Intertribal Court System.

Montoya-Lewis has also shared the story of her great-great-grandmother, Tzashima, who was sent to a Pennsylvania boarding school that stripped her of her native identity, when she teaches classes in unconscious or implicit bias to judges, court employees and others throughout Washington state. She also provided the training at the Judicial College that all new judges must attend.

Duration 2:28 Five ways to fight implicit bias Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis teaches classes in unconscious or implicit bias to judges, court employees and others throughout Washington state. By Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis

Montoya-Lewis said her family’s story is a powerful way to show how prejudices creep into everyday life in ways non-minority people don’t notice. “I tell the story of institutional racism, but through my family,” Montoya-Lewis said in a previous interview with The Herald. “It’s important because we have to acknowledge that those things exist.”

Many said Montoya-Lewis was “the best trial judge they’ve ever had” Inslee said, and that she embodies intelligence, courage, compassion, temperament and fairness.

“Judge Montoya-Lewis brings intellectual humility, courage of conviction and a personal commitment to improving access to justice for all of our communities,” Inslee said. “I look forward to her professional mark in our state history and on our state’s highest court.”

The other members of the state Supreme Court are: Justices Barbara Madsen, Charles Johnson, , Steven Gonzalez, Sheryl Gordon McCloud, Charles Wiggins and .

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Denver Pratt 360-715-2236 Reporter Denver Pratt joined The Bellingham Herald in 2017 and covers courts and criminal and social justice. She has worked in Montana, Florida and Virginia.

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