Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Fairhurst surprised STCU members and employees with a visit Thursday, July 31, to tour the first credit union she ever joined.
Fairhurst, who is up for re-election this year, became a member of STCU while a student at Gonzaga University in the late 1970s.
"You've really changed the place," Fairhurst said, stepping inside the Main Branch, 106 W. Nora Ave.
Fairhurst is campaigning for a second six-year term against Michael Bond, a Mercer Island attorney. Both are graduates of Gonzaga Law School. As the incumbent, Fairhurst enjoys endorsements from six major newspapers, the Washington Chapter-American Federation of Teachers, the Washington Education Association, and others.
"It is a great honor to host Justice Fairhurst and to have this opportunity to talk with her about issues important to credit unions in Washington," says Steve Dahlstrom, president and CEO of STCU. "Many issues of interest to credit unions are decided by the court -- from the securitization of loans, the appropriateness of financial institution fees, and employment issues that affect Washington businesses."
Fairhurst said she is the only member of a credit union on the nine-member court. She currently belongs to Washington State Employees Credit Union in Olympia.
The Washington Supreme Court recently ruled that attorneys could continue to maintain their IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Account) deposits with their credit union. In another 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the names of teachers accused of sexual misconduct should not be released unless the charges were substantiated or disciplinary action had been taken. Fairhurst wrote the majority opinion in that decision.
The Washington primary on August 19 essentially can decide an election for a judge if a candidate is either unopposed or receives more than half of the votes. If either of those conditions are met, the candidate's name is the only one on the ballot in the general election. Supreme Court justices are non-partisan.After graduating from the GU law school in 1984, Fairhurst spent 16 years with the state Attorney General's Office, specializing in revenue, transportation, criminal justice, and labor. The oldest in a family of seven, she was the second woman and youngest attorney, to become president of the Washington State Bar Association. The tall, good-humored justice also serves on the Board of Regents at Gonzaga.
Fairhurst has been a part of 630 decisions on the court, writing more than 75 majority opinions. The Supreme Court hears cases of broad public significance and split decisions by the court of appeals. It interprets challenged legislation and considers death penalty appeals and actions against state officials.
"Our decisions affect every person in the state of Washington," Fairhurst said. "We become the case law for Washington." Learn more about Justice Fairhurst and the Washington State Supreme Court.
