Theo Angelis
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!
Community Engagement
- ✅ Jefferson County Bar Supreme Court Forum
- ❌ Ballotpedia Survey 2026
- ✅ LWV Four Questions Video
- ✅ Asian Bar Associations rating: Exceptionally Well Qualified
- ✅ TVW Video Voters' Guide
- ❌ VOTE411 Voter Guide
- ✅ Washington State Standard Voter Guide
- ✅ Washington Women Lawyers rating: Exceptionally Well Qualified
Written endorsements
No letters of support or opposition listed yet.
Endorsements
WA State Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra StephensWA State Supreme Court Associate Chief Justice Charles JohnsonWA State Supreme Court Justice Steve GonzálezWA State Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloudWA State Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-LewisWA State Supreme Court Justice Helen WhitenerWA State Supreme Court Justice Sal MungiaWA State Supreme Court Justice Colleen MelodyWA State Court of Appeals Division 1 Judge Bill BowmanWA State Court of Appeals Division 1 Judge Leonard FeldmanWA State Court of Appeals Division 1 Judge David MannWA State Court of Appeals Division II Judge Meng Li CheWA State Court of Appeals Division II Judge Anne CruserWA State Court of Appeals Division II Judge Linda LeeWA State Court of Appeals Division II Judge Rebecca GlasgowWA State Court of Appeals Division II Judge Brad MaxaWA State Court of Appeals Division II Judge Barnard VeljacicWA State Court of Appeals Division III Judge Rob Lawrence-BerreyWA State Court of Appeals Division III Judge Megan MurphySpokane County Superior Court Judge Breean BeggsKing County Superior Court Judge Samuel ChungKing County Superior Court Judge Paul CrisalliKing County Superior Court Judge Marshall FergusonKing County Superior Court Judge Taki FlevarisKing County Superior Court Judge Jason HollowayKing County Superior Court Judge David KeenanKing County Superior Court Judge Mark LarrañagaKing County Superior Court Judge Kent LiuKing County Superior Court Judge John McHaleKing County Superior Court Judge Nicole Gaines PhelpsKing County Superior Court Judge Jim RogersKing County Superior Court Judge Mike RyanKing County Superior Court Judge Benjamin SantosKing County Superior Court Judge Michael ScottKing County Superior Court Judge Daniel YorkPierce County Superior Court Judge Ingrid McLeodPierce County Superior Court Judge André PeñalverPierce County Superior Court Judge Matt ThomasWA Governor Bob FergusonCongresswoman Marilyn StricklandWA Lieutenant Governor Denny HeckWA Insurance Commissioner Patty KudererJamestown S’Klallam Tribe Chair and CEO W. Ron AllenWA Commissioner of Public Lands Dave UpthegroveKing County Executive Girmay ZahilayKing County Councilmember Rod DembowskiKing County Councilmember Teresa MosquedaKing County Councilmember Sarah PerrySeattle Port Commissioner Ryan CalkinsTacoma Mayor Anders IbsenOlympia Mayor Dontae PayneSpokane Mayor Lisa BrownSeattle Councilmember Maritza RiveraKitsap County PUD Commissioner Heather Pauley22nd Legislative District State Senator Jessica Bateman24th Legislative District State Senator Mike Chapman49th Legislative District State Senator Annette Cleveland18th Legislative District State Senator Adrian Cortes45th Legislative District State Senator Manka Dhingra23rd Legislative District State Senator Drew Hansen11th Legislative District State Senator Bob Hasegawa5th Legislative District State Senator Victoria Hunt47th Legislative District State Senator Claudia Kauffman26th Legislative District State Senator Deb Krishnadasan21st Legislative District State Senator Marko Liias40th Legislative District State Senator Liz Lovelett44th Legislative District State Senator John Lovick33rd Legislative District State Senator Tina Orwall43rd Legislative District State Senator Jamie Pedersen3rd Legislative District State Senator Marcus Riccelli38th Legislative District State Senator June Robinson42nd Legislative District State Senator Sharon Shewmake41st Legislative District State Senator Lisa Wellman30th Legislative District State Senator Claire Wilson44th Legislative District State Representative April Berg11th Legislative District State Representative Steve Bergquist5th Legislative District State Representative Lisa Callan28th Legislative District State Representative Julio Cortes22nd Legislative District State Representative Beth Doglio41st Legislative District State Representative Brandy Donaghy47th Legislative District State Representative Debra Entenman34th Legislative District State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon38th Legislative District State Representative Mary Fosse11th Legislative District State Representative David Hackney27th Legislative District State Representative Laurie Jinkins28th Legislative District State Representative Mari Leavitt40th Legislative District State Representative Debra Lekanoff23rd Legislative District State Representative Greg Nance33rd Legislative District State Representative Edwin Obras3rd Legislative District State Representative Timm Ormsby21st Legislative District State Representative Lilian Ortiz-Self22nd Legislative District State Representative Lisa Parshley21st Legislative District State Representative Strom Peterson46th Legislative District State Representative Gerry Pollet40th Legislative District State Representative Alex Ramel36th Legislative District State Representative Julia Reed26th Legislative District State Representative Adison Richards32nd Legislative District State Representative Cindy Ryu48th Legislative District State Representative Osman Salahuddin23rd Legislative District State Representative Tarra Simmons47th Legislative District State Representative Chris Stearns37th Legislative District State Representative Chipalo Street24th Legislative District State Representative Steve Tharinger42nd Legislative District State Representative Joe Timmons49th Legislative District State Representative Sharon Wylie41st Legislative District State Representative Janice ZahnWA State Supreme Court Justice Barbara Madsen (ret.)WA State Supreme Court Justice Gerry L. Alexander (ret.)Retired WA State Court of Appeals Division 1 Judge Michael J TrickeyKing County Superior Court Judge Laura Inveen (ret.)King County Superior Court Judge Paris Kalls (ret.)King County Superior Court Judge Judith Ramseyer (ret.)King County Superior Court Judge Matthew Segal (ret.)WA Governor Jay Inslee (fmr.)WA Governor Chris Gregoire (fmr.)King County Councilmember Larry Phillips (fmr.)Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller (fmr.)US Attorney & Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (fmr.)US Attorney Mike McKay (fmr.)Former 1st Legislative District State Senator Christine RolfesAberdeen Indivisible
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