Legal/Judicial Experience

Current Supreme Court Justice appointed by Governor Ferguson following a diverse, award-winning 26-year legal career as a Partner at K&L Gates.

Other Professional Experience

Throughout career, led Appellate and Intellectual Property teams, and pro bono cases representing immigrant children, veterans, refugees, small businesses, and people experiencing homelessness.

Education

BA, Claremont McKenna College; MA, Oxford University; MA, London School of Economics; JD, Yale University

Community Service

Trustee, King County Bar Association; President, Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington; Member, Attorney General's Youth Internet Safety Task Force; Founders Award, Kids in Need of Defense; ACLU Humanitarian Award; Mentor of the Year, King County Bar Association

Statement

As a Justice and throughout my legal career, I’ve fought for the rule of law, the rights of all individuals, and to ensure our courts remain fair, independent, and accessible. Before joining the Supreme Court, I frequently volunteered to help people who couldn’t afford lawyers. I sued the federal government when they forced children—as young as 4 years old—to appear without lawyers in immigration court. The federal government eventually agreed to pay for lawyers, and the ACLU gave me the Humanitarian Award.

I also represented an Army veteran, a naturalized U.S. citizen, after ICE wrongly detained him for seven months. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project gave me the Amicus Award for my “groundbreaking work”.

I’ve worked to mentor attorneys to expand diversity in our profession, and with Turkish and Greek ancestry, I am proud to be the first Justice of Middle Eastern descent on our highest court.  

I am endorsed by all of my colleagues on the Supreme Court; Governors Ferguson and Gregoire; former U.S. Attorneys Durkan, Gorman, and McKay; over 500 Judges and attorneys statewide; 52 State Legislators; Executive Zahilay; mayors statewide; WA State Labor Council; King County and numerous LD Democrats; and more!