MISSION: The Judicial Institute is dedicated to diversifying Washington State’s judiciary. Washington’s judiciary does not reflect the richness of the communities it serves, but a fair justice system depends on judges with a wide variety of perspectives, life experiences, and career paths. We provide a comprehensive clinic, other introductory programs, and mentors to develop the skills and connections necessary to seek appointment or election to the bench.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, led by a volunteer board of directors, the Judicial Institute organizes its main program every two years for diverse legal professionals seeking a pathway to the bench. The Judicial Institute, in partnership with Seattle University School of Law, also collaborates with minority bar associations, the judiciary, local and state bar associations, law schools, law firms and private corporations to promote diversity in the judiciary.
Board of Directors
Alma Zuniga, Treasurer
Alma Zuniga is a managing attorney with the Yakima office of the Northwest Justice Project, a statewide legal services organization in Washington State. She represents low-income individuals in cases involving identity theft, student loans, collections, driver’s license suspensions, legal financial obligations, charity care, and victims of domestic violence in divorce and custody cases.
Alma received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. She is an active member of the Washington State Bar Association and American Bar Association. Alma is currently serving as Vice President on the Yakima County Volunteer Attorney Services. She is a 2013 fellow of the Washington Leadership Institute. In the past Alma has served as a Trustee of the Washington Young Lawyers Division, on the ABA Language Access Project National Advisory Group, the Washington State Interpreter Commission, and served as chair of the Yakima Pre Law Conference, an annual event targeting minority and at-risk high school students in the Yakima Valley.
Chalia Stallings-Ala’ilima
, Selection Committee Chair
Chalia Stallings-Ala’ilima is an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, enforcing state and federal anti-discrimination laws. Chalia also serves as a Judge Pro Tempore with Seattle Municipal Court. At the AGO, Chalia litigates Attorney General-initiated matters; prosecutes cases for the Washington State Human Rights Commission; works on AGO amicus briefs; advises the AGO’s Keep Washington Working Act team and contributed to the AGO’s Guidance Concerning Immigration Enforcement; authors publications based on the AGO’s work; enforces Fair Chance Act and Pregnancy Accommodation state laws; and presents to lawyers, students, and community members about the AGO’s work. Chalia litigated child welfare cases at the AGO for seven years before moving to the Civil Rights Division. Chalia has co-chaired the AGO’s Diversity Advisory Committee and Washington State Bar Association Committee for Diversity Outreach subcommittee; served as President of the Loren Miller Bar Association; was a fellow of the JustLead Washington Leadership Academy; and participated on the Seattle Police Department Officer-Involved Shooting Force Review Board as the Mayor’s Citizen Observer Alternate. Chalia has received the AGO’s William V. Tanner and Excellence awards, WSBA’s Achieving Professional Excellence (APEX) in Diversity award; and team recognition with the Legal Foundation of Washington’s Goldmark Distinguished Service Award and Loren Miller Bar Association’s Excellence in the Legal Profession Award. Chalia is the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion officer for the Association of Washington Assistant Attorneys General-AFSCME Local 5297, Oversight Committee Vice-Chair for the Office of Civil Legal Aid; and serves on the WSBA Civil Rights Law Section Executive Committee and the Board of the University of Washington Law Foundation. Chalia received both her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Washington.
Rachel Luke, Boardmember
Rachel Luke is an attorney at Friedman Rubin PLLP in Seattle, Washington. She represents clients in complex products liability, personal injury, aviation, and insurance bad faith litigation. Rachel previously served on the Loren Miller Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee and served as co-chair of the Washington State Association for Justice Diversity Committee. She is currently a member of the Joint Asian Judicial Evaluations Committee, the Korean American Bar Association of Washington, the Loren Miller Bar Association, Washington State Association for Justice, and the American Association for Justice. Rachel received her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Riddhi Mukhopadhyay
, Board Chair
Riddhi Mukhopadhyay (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Sexual Violence Law Center (SVLC) and the Interim Advocacy Director at Legal Voice. A former sexual assault and domestic violence advocate, Riddhi started her legal career at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) as a Berkely Law Foundation legal fellow and staff attorney, followed by working at Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel. Riddhi has co-chaired Seattle's Immigrant and Refugee Commission, and previously served on the board of the Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence and the Washington State’s Gender and Justice Commission. She currently serves by appointment on Washington State’s Women’s Commission. She is adjunct faculty at Seattle University School of Law and University of Washington. In recognition of her work in the field of victims’ rights, Riddhi has received the Jeanette Williams Award from the Seattle Women’s Commission, the Golden Tennis Shoe Award from Senator Patty Murray, the APEX Award for Leadership from the Washington State Bar Association and the Sharon L. Corbitt Award from the American Bar Association. Riddhi provides bilingual legal services in Spanish, and also speaks Bengali and Hindi. Riddhi received her B.A. from Duke University and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Vanessa Arno Martinez, Boardmember
Vanessa Arno Martinez is based in Wenatchee, Washington, where she practices immigration law. Prior to co-founding Arno Martinez Law, PLLC in 2018, Vanessa worked as a staff attorney in civil legal aid for over four years. She focuses on representing survivors of violence in their immigration proceedings. Vanessa earned her Juris Doctor from the Seattle University School of Law in 2013. She is a Washington Leadership Institute (WLI) Fellow, class of 2018. Vanessa currently serves on the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington (LBAW) board as Vice President of Eastern Washington; she previously served as Secretary, and President. Vanessa also previously served on the Chelan-Douglas Volunteer Attorney Services Board.