Governor Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Bree Black Horse to Yakima County Superior Court Judge, effective immediately. The appointment fills a new position created by legislation Ferguson signed earlier this year, marking the first addition to the court since 1998.
Black Horse is a career litigator with more than 12 years of experience handling criminal and civil cases in federal, state, and Tribal courts. She currently practices at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, representing Tribal governments and enterprises in complex civil litigation and governmental matters. She also serves as director and adjunct professor of law for the Seattle University School of Law Central Washington Hybrid Hub and leads its Pipeline Initiative, a regional partnership focused on expanding access to legal education and addressing the shortage of attorneys in Central Washington.
Black Horse previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, where she was the first regional prosecutor in the Northwest dedicated to addressing cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). Based in Yakima, she investigated and prosecuted violent crime, child exploitation, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offenses across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California. She also worked as a public defender and legal aid attorney for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
"I am honored and grateful to Governor Ferguson for the opportunity to serve the people of Yakima County," Black Horse said. "...Every person who comes before the court deserves to be heard, treated with dignity and respect, and to have their case considered fairly and impartially."