Temple of Justice, home of the State Supreme Court

Gov. Chris Gregoire has chosen a successor to retiring Justice Gerry Alexander: veteran King County Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who came from an immigrant family with Mexican and Eastern European roots and was first named to the King County bench by Gov. Gary Locke, becomes the high court’s lone minority justice.  Gregoire, who praised his intellect and broad legal skills, also noted his gift for learning foreign languages and for his work on behalf of improving access to justice. She said she expects “great energy and distinction” as Gonzalez joins the nine-member state high court.

Gregoire called Alexander “irreplaceable” and Chief Justice Barbara Madsen called him “our dear friend and colleague.”  Alexander, who is the state’s senior jurist, has served at all levels of court. He turned 75 this year, triggering mandatory retirement by the end of the year. Tuesday was Alexander’s last day of hearing oral arguments, although he will serve as a pro-tem judge in order to sign holdover opinions as they are written.

Gonzalez will face the voters next year for election to a six-year term in his own right.  The primary is in early August. Any candidate who gets more than 50 percent of the primary vote goes alone to the General Election ballot. If no one gets 50 percent, the top two advance.

The post pays $164,230 a year.

Gonzalez, a graduate of the University of California Berkeley School of Law, was admitted to the Washington bar in 1991.  He worked in private practice, then joined the Seattle Attorney’s Office. From 1997 to 2002, he was assistant U.S. Attorney for Western Washington.  He prosecuted terrorist Ahmed Ressam.  Locke appointed him to the King County bench in March of 2002 and he was elected three times.

His wife, Michelle, is assistant dean of the University of Washington Law School. They have two young sons.