Colleen Melody

Colleen Melody was among the Washington Attorney General's attorneys handling a multistate challenge to federal mifepristone restrictions when a federal judge entered a preliminary injunction preserving access to the medication in the plaintiff jurisdictions.

April 7, 2023Supports Women's Reproductive Rights

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody signed the Washington Supreme Court's open letter committing the court to examine and rectify precedent and practices that dehumanize Indigenous people in state legal systems.

June 5, 2026Supports Civil Rights

Source: courts.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody delivered oral argument for Washington in litigation against Sunnyside. The Washington Supreme Court upheld the Attorney General's authority to challenge local-government civil-rights violations and allowed nearly all of the state's claims to proceed.

June 20, 2024Supports Civil Rights

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody handled Washington's civil-rights case against Pasco-area agricultural companies that resolved through a $470,000 settlement over allegations of sexual abuse and harassment of female farmworkers.

June 17, 2024Supports Civil Rights

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the federal government's attempt to end DACA. Washington credited Colleen Melody with presenting oral argument in the district court and said the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division played a key role in the multistate case.

June 18, 2020Supports Civil Rights

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody and Patricio Marquez led Washington's civil-rights case against Horning Brothers, which resolved through a $525,000 settlement addressing allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against farmworkers.

October 18, 2018Supports Civil Rights

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody was among the Washington Attorney General's attorneys handling litigation against the transgender military-service ban when a federal judge entered a preliminary injunction blocking the ban.

December 11, 2017Supports Civil Rights

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody was among the Washington Attorney General's attorneys handling Washington's challenge to the first Trump administration travel ban when a federal court entered a nationwide temporary restraining order halting key provisions.

February 3, 2017Supports Civil Rights

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody served as counsel for the United States in a religious-land-use case against the City of Lomita. The agreed order required the city to reconsider a mosque application on an expedited schedule and imposed training, notice, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.

March 8, 2013Supports Civil Rights

Source: justice.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Governor Bob Ferguson appointed Colleen Melody to the Washington Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by Justice Mary Yu's retirement.

November 24, 2025

Source: governor.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody signed the Washington Supreme Court majority in In re Disciplinary Proceeding Against Feyissa, which ordered disbarment after finding multiple professional-misconduct violations involving false evidence and deception.

June 11, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: courts.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody delivered oral argument for Washington in litigation against Sunnyside. The Washington Supreme Court upheld the Attorney General's authority to challenge local-government civil-rights violations and allowed nearly all of the state's claims to proceed.

June 20, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody handled Washington's civil-rights case against Pasco-area agricultural companies that resolved through a $470,000 settlement over allegations of sexual abuse and harassment of female farmworkers.

June 17, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody was among the Washington Attorney General's attorneys handling a multistate challenge to federal mifepristone restrictions when a federal judge entered a preliminary injunction preserving access to the medication in the plaintiff jurisdictions.

April 7, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the federal government's attempt to end DACA. Washington credited Colleen Melody with presenting oral argument in the district court and said the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division played a key role in the multistate case.

June 18, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody and Patricio Marquez led Washington's civil-rights case against Horning Brothers, which resolved through a $525,000 settlement addressing allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against farmworkers.

October 18, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody was among the Washington Attorney General's attorneys handling litigation against the transgender military-service ban when a federal judge entered a preliminary injunction blocking the ban.

December 11, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody was among the Washington Attorney General's attorneys handling Washington's challenge to the first Trump administration travel ban when a federal court entered a nationwide temporary restraining order halting key provisions.

February 3, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: atg.wa.gov · researched July 13, 2026

Colleen Melody served as counsel for the United States in a religious-land-use case against the City of Lomita. The agreed order required the city to reconsider a mosque application on an expedited schedule and imposed training, notice, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.

March 8, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: justice.gov · researched July 13, 2026