Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Service

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative service, in its 23rd year on the Island, will feature newly appointed State Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez. As always, the event will be held on Dr. King’s birthday, January 15th. This year it falls on a Sunday and will be held at the Vashon Presbyterian Church at 7:00 p.m.

According to the event organizer, Emma Amiad, "We are thrilled that Justice Gonzalez will be our speaker this year. We will be one of the first communities in the state to hear him speak after he takes his seat on the court." He will be introduced by King County Superior Judge Mary Yu, the dynamic speaker at last year’s event, and a Vashon resident. Both judges are deeply involvement work to correct the racial disparities in access to justice in our criminal justice system.

Justice Gonzalez is only the second ethnic minority to serve on Washington’s Supreme Court. He brings a wealth of experience with hate crimes, terrorism and child prostitution. While serving as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the state’s Western District, he prosecuted an international terrorist who had planned on detonating a bomb at the LA International airport and was apprehended in Port Angeles.

Gonzalez is a well recognized scholar and has a deep legal background having served as a trail lawyer, a criminal prosecutor and, for the last ten years, has been a King County Superior Court Judge. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, school of law. He lives with his wife and two children in Seattle. His wife, Michelle Gonzalez is assistant dean at the University of Washington law school.

The annual Martin Luther King event is a tradition on the Island and is free to everyone. A quartet, made up of Joe Farmer, Kathleen Rindge, Dan Brown and Jean Richstad will perform some of Dr. King’s favorite spirituals and Emma Amiad will share some of Dr. King’s words. Refreshments will be served.