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Judge James Phillips, Washington’s first Native American judge
September 23, 2008
The Washington State Supreme Court will host a ceremony and reception on October 1, 2008 for the presentation of historic photos to the Court of former Grays Harbor County Superior Court Judge James M. Phillips, who served the bench from 1929 to 1950. The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in the Temple of Justice, and is open to the public.
“We believe that Judge Phillips was the first Native American to serve as a judge in the court system of the state of Washington,” said Chief Justice Gerry Alexander. The framed photos, which relate to the life and times of Judge Phillips, will be presented by the Grays Harbor Superior Court and will be displayed in the Temple of Justice.
“I am very excited about the photos,” Alexander said. “We very much appreciate the work of Grays Harbor Superior Court Judge Gordon Godfrey and his colleagues in calling attention to this important figure in Washington’s legal history.”