William L. Downing
William Lansing Downing (born August 1, 1949) is a former judge of the Superior Court of Washington for King County (Seattle) and a former prosecutor. He retired following 28 years of distinguished service as a judge on the King County Superior Court bench. He is recognized for his landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in Washington.[1]
Before embarking on a career in law, Downing graduated from Vassar College, worked in a psychiatric hospital as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, and made a living working on fishing boats in Bellingham, Washington. While at Vassar, he met his wife, Laura; after graduating, the two moved to Seattle where they raised their son.[2]
After earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1978, he served as a prosecutor in King County for 11 years. During his tenure, he successfully prosecuted the individuals responsible for the 1983 Wah Mee massacre.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Westneat, Danny (January 5, 2017). "Retiring Judge William Downing's legacy: shifting the debate on gay marriage". Seattle Times. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ "Senate Resolution 8617". Secretary of the Washington State Senate. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Text of same-sex marriage decision
- http://www.seattlepi.com/local/185153_judge06.html?searchpagefrom=3&searchdiff=16
- http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001997223_downing05m.html
- https://www.jamsadr.com/news/2017/retired-judge-william-l-downing-joins-jams-in-seattle
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