WA's newest state Supreme Court justice is sworn in

After a narrow election victory in November, Sal Mungia is officially Washington’s newest state Supreme Court justice.

Mungia, along with current justices Steven Gonzalez and Sheryl Gordon McCloud, were sworn in Monday morning in an overflowing courtroom at the Temple of Justice in Olympia. Gonzalez and Gordon McCloud both won reelection unopposed. All three were elected to six-year terms.

The court’s longest-serving justice, Charles Johnson, also swore in a new chief justice. Justice Debra Stephens is taking over the seat from Gonzalez, who had been chief justice since 2021. The justices select a new chief justice every four years. Stephens has been on the Supreme Court since 2008. She previously served as chief justice beginning in 2020.

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson lauded the importance of an independent judiciary at Monday’s ceremony. He said he used to take it for granted but can’t anymore.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/01/13/washingtons-newest-state-supreme-court-justice-is-sworn-in/