Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven González reflected Tuesday night on what diversity in cultural perspectives can bring to classrooms and courtrooms alike, remarking that the dynamic on the high court has changed for the better during his 13 years on the bench as he's been joined by more colleagues of color.

Justice González, who joined the state Supreme Court in 2012 and is now its first chief justice of color, spoke at the University of Washington, Tacoma, about his blended family roots, love of language and emphasis on equity.

"What was said in that room when I was the first person of color and the only one in the room is not the same as what is said now — not just by the three other people of color who've joined the court, but by my white colleagues, too, given our presence there," Justice González said.  "So I am convinced that, both substantively and for appearance purposes, it's critical to have that diversity."

"The law only works because people have faith in the ruling being fair, and if you don't have that faith, it undermines the very purpose of it," the chief justice said. "If you see a group that doesn't look like you at all, you're going to be much more skeptical of the outcome."

Justice González is running unopposed this November for a third six-year term on the state Supreme Court.

During the Tuesday night conversation with Seattle University School of Law Dean Anthony E. Varona, the justice addressed students and legal professionals. He encouraged lawyers to communicate with civility and use language as both "a tool and an art," whether arguing motions or addressing a jury.  

"We often lose that in law school — we become technical writers, and we lose our humanity in the language," he said. "It's so important, going back to the story you have to tell in a trial, to be able to communicate in a way that's reachable without a legal education. Our opinions shouldn't just be for lawyers and judges."

Contrasting cultures were a part of his childhood, Justice González said. His mother's family came to the U.S. from Eastern Europe by way of Ellis Island, and suffered discrimination first for their Jewish heritage and later during the McCarthy Era. His father's family landed in the country after fleeing the Mexican Revolution.  

"We didn't have much," the justice said. "But we had lots of guilt with the Jewish and Catholic families."

As a teenager, Justice González said, he felt guilt for only speaking English. He traced his love of language back to a high school vendetta against a Spanish teacher, who flunked him after accusing him of taking the class for an easy grade because he seemed fluent. He studied abroad in Japan and China as a college student and eventually "fumbled" his way into a legal career in international trade.   

Justice González was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in 2012 after a decade of experience as a state trial court judge hearing criminal, civil, juvenile and family law cases in the Seattle area. At the time, he was the only former state Superior Court judge on the high court, so knowing the trial court mechanics gave him an advantage.

"I still think it's important, because I'm reviewing cases from the kinds of courts where I used to sit," he said. "On the other hand, when you're a trial court judge, you're the one in charge — you rule, you say it and it should happen. When you're in a deliberative body of nine and you say it, you're just 11% of the vote."

"The late Justice [Charles Z.] Smith told me that you don't have to know a whole lot of math to be a judge most of the time, but you need to know how to count to five. That's wisdom," Justice González added. Justice Smith was the high court's first African American justice.

A longtime advocate for access to justice, Justice González said some of the biggest obstacles are the shortage of public defenders, the rising cost of law school, and the complexity of the legal system. Developing technology, too, has its risks and potential for broadening access to legal services.  

"I'm both enthralled with and terrified by some of the changes that are happening," said Justice González. "Inevitably, we're going to get a lot of legal work done online and through chatbots and various other ways. We better embrace and understand that, because it's going to happen whether we understand it or not."

For anyone considering a future as a judge, the justice encouraged them to have "the courage to speak up" for others, even when doing so is controversial.  

"That gets noticed," Justice González said. "Think about it: Who are you speaking up for who isn't like you? When are you reaching out, sticking out your neck, and taking a personal risk for another group aside from your own?"

"It's really important to do that in your career," he said. "I'm not saying there will be no risk — I'm saying the reward will be greater than the price that you pay."

--Editing by Jay Jackson Jr.