Jan. 3, 2024, Grays Harbor County Courthouse
I wanted to be a lawyer from the age of seven when I put black robes on my Barbie dolls. Ken was a witness or the defendant. My heroes included Ghandi, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and, of course, Atticus Finch.

To me, there is no greater profession than one which stands against injustice and corrects humanity’s course when we fall too far from our ideals.

I know that wearing this robe means guarding the gate.

Today, though, is my first step, and it is one I take with gratitude.

I need to say thank you.

To my family: my parents, Sam and Pona, and my husband, Guy.

No one is successful alone, and that starts with parents who nurture and push for excellence along with a partner who has your back no matter what path you take.

Thank you to my neighbors, the good people of Grays Harbor. As a transplant, you welcomed me, befriended me and made me your own. I fell in love with this place and its people. You helped us find a home here.

To Governor Inslee and his staff for giving me this opportunity to serve the Harbor.

And thank you to the lawyers and judges, both those who are here and those who’ve retired or passed on. All of you molded the 26-year-old woman who started practicing law in this courthouse.

For my first ten years, I primarily appeared in front of four judges: Judge Foscue, Judge McCauley, Judge Godfrey (Grays Harbor County) and Judge Penoyer (Pacific County).

I won and lost in front of them. They complimented me when I did well and cut me to the knees when I didn’t. They taught me the process of litigation to an exacting standard.

Throughout it all, they invested the time to make me the best lawyer I could be and an asset to our legal community.

It is my honor to step up and follow in their steps.

What happens in these courtrooms is noble and incredibly important—not just to the people involved, but to our entire community. It is the rule of law, and the concept that all are equal under the law, that forms the foundation of our democracy.

I will do my best to uphold the traditions and standards of those coming before me—and those serving the bench and bar so well today.