[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MARY YU

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PRAMILA JAYAPAL

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2025

  Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Justice 
Mary Yu. Justice Yu will retire at the end of this year after over 25 
years of distinguished service on the bench, including more than a 
decade on the Washington State Supreme Court. Her tenure is marked by 
an unwavering commitment to fairness, dignity, and equity for all. She 
is a trailblazer, a champion for justice and a visionary leader in 
Washington's legal community.
  As the first Asian American, the first Latina, and the first LGBTQ+ 
justice to serve on our state's highest court, she has brought an 
unparalleled depth of experience and perspective to the judiciary. She 
co-chaired the Minority and Justice Commission and chaired the Board 
for Judicial Administration's Public Trust and Confidence Committee. In 
these capacities, she worked to eliminate bias in all areas, including 
in jury pools, and build public trust and ensure fairness in state 
courts. She has been a champion for ensuring workers' rights and 
housing rights. Among many important rulings, she authored a unanimous 
ruling on a voting rights case that protected against discrimination 
based on race, color, and language. In 2012, she presided over the 
first same-sex marriages in Washington State, standing at the forefront 
of a historic civil rights milestone. Her compassion, warmth and belief 
in human dignity are evident in the many cases she has handled.
  Off the bench, she has mentored countless law students, new attorneys 
and law clerks, taught as Jurist in Residence at Seattle University 
School of Law, volunteered for the Seattle Girls' School Mock Trials 
for nearly two decades, and co-chaired the Washington State Bar 
Association/University of Washington Law School Leadership Institute. 
Her commitment to fairness, diverse perspectives, and mentorship has 
made her not only a respected jurist, but a beloved role model in the 
legal community.
  On behalf of Washington's 7th Congressional District and the 
countless lives she has touched, I extend my heartfelt thanks to 
Justice Mary Yu. Her service has bent the arc of justice further in our 
state, and her legacy will continue to guide and inspire generations to 
come, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating her extraordinary 
contributions to Washington State and to our country.

                          ____________________