Justice Mary E. Fairhurst of Olympia, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...

 has been a member of the Washington State Supreme Court since her election in 2002. She won her re-election in 2008 against Michael J. Bond.

Justice Fairhurst earned her undergraduate degree in political science cum laude from Gonzaga University in 1979. In 1984, she earned her law degree magna cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law

Gonzaga University School of Law

The Gonzaga University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, USA. Established in 1912, the law school is viewed as a strong institution in the Pacific Northwest, and is the only law school in the State of Washington...

. She began her legal career in the Supreme Court as a judicial clerk.

Fairhurst served in the Washington Attorney General

Attorney General

In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...

's office under Christine Gregoire

Christine Gregoire

Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington...

 and Ken Eikenberry

Ken Eikenberry

Kenneth Otto Eikenberry is a United States politician.Eikenberry was Washington's Attorney General from 1981 to 1993. A Republican, he succeeded Slade Gorton, who went on to represent Washington in the United States Senate. Eikenberry ran for governor of Washington in 1992, and was defeated...

. Fairhurst worked on a constitutional amendment to increase the rights of crime victims. She has also organized statewide conferences on domestic violence

Domestic violence

Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...

.

Fairhurst served as the president of the Washington State Bar Association

Washington State Bar Association

The Washington State Bar Association is the mandatory statewide bar association of Washington State. As an administrative arm of the Washington State Supreme Court, it administers the admissions, licensing, and discipline functions for lawyers licensed in Washington. It also acts as their...

. She was the second woman and youngest attorney to hold this position. She also served on the Bar Board of Governors representing the Third Congressional District

Washington's 3rd congressional district

Washington's 3rd congressional district encompasses the southernmost portion of Western Washington, from Olympia south to the Columbia River. It includes the counties of Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, and Clark, and the majority of Thurston and Skamania counties...

as President of the Washington Women Lawyers.