Helen Whitener facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Whitener
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| Justice of the Washington Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office April 24, 2020 |
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| Appointed by | Jay Inslee |
| Preceded by | Charles K. Wiggins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Grace Helen Whitener
1964 (age 60–61) Trinidad and Tobago |
| Spouse | Lynn Rainey |
| Education | Baruch College (BBA) Seattle University (JD) |
Grace Helen Whitener, born in 1964, is a highly respected judge. She is an associate justice on the Washington Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the state of Washington. Governor Jay Inslee chose her for this important role on April 13, 2020. She took the place of Justice Charles K. Wiggins, who was retiring. Justice Whitener is known professionally as G. Helen Whitener. She is a Trinidadian-American attorney.
Early Life and Education
Grace Helen Whitener was born and grew up in Trinidad. When she was 16 years old, she moved to the United States. She came to the U.S. to get special medical care.
She attended Baruch College and earned a degree in international marketing and trade. Later, she studied law at the Seattle University School of Law. There, she earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree, which is a law degree.
Career as a Judge
After finishing law school, Justice Whitener worked in several legal roles. She was a public defender, helping people who could not afford a lawyer. She also worked as a prosecutor, representing the government in legal cases. In addition, she was a private defense attorney.
Before joining the Washington Supreme Court, she served as a judge in other courts. For two years, she was a judge on the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals. This board handles cases related to workplace injuries.
From 2015 to 2020, she served on the Pierce County Superior Court. Governor Inslee appointed her to this position. She was elected without opposition in both 2015 and 2016.
On April 13, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee appointed her to the Washington Supreme Court. She successfully ran for election in 2020. She won 66% of the votes for the remaining two years of Justice Wiggins's term.
Personal Life and Achievements
Justice Whitener has achieved many "firsts" in her career. She is the first African-American judge in Washington who is openly part of the LGBTQ community. She is also the second African-American person to serve on the Washington Supreme Court. The first was Charles Z. Smith.
Justice Whitener lives with a disability. She is also a co-chair of the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission. This group works to make sure the justice system is fair for everyone.
She is married to Lynn Rainey. Lynn Rainey also graduated from the Seattle University School of Law. She is an activist who supports the LGBTQ community.
See also
In Spanish: Helen Whitener para niños
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first women lawyers and judges in Washington
