Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Josephine Wiggs-Martin to King County Superior Court today. She replaces Judge Wesley Saint Clair, who retired from the bench at the end of February.
Wiggs-Martin has over a decade of legal experience in King County. For the past 13 years, she has served as an attorney for the King County Department of Public Defense in the Northwest Defenders Division, where she has conducted over 100 criminal trials, ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies.
For nearly 20 years, Wiggs-Martin has been an active member of the King County community, volunteering with the Immigrant Families Advocacy Project, the King County Bar Association's Neighborhood Legal Clinic and Seattle’s Youth Court. She also served on the King County Bar Association Race Class Disparity Task Force.
"Josie has a deep understanding of the legal needs of underserved communities and the inequities in the legal system," Inslee said. "Her breadth of experience, including substantial trial experience, and her passion to pursue justice will make her a great addition to the bench."
She received both her law degree and bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington.