Susan Owens
Encyclopedia
Susan Owens is an Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court
. On November 7, 2000, she was elected the seventh woman to serve on the court. She joined the court after serving nineteen years as District Court Judge in Western Clallam County, where she was the county's senior elected official with five terms. She also served as the Quileute
Tribe's Chief Judge for five years and Chief Judge of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
for more than six years.
Owens was born and raised in Kinston, North Carolina
, where she graduated from high school. Her father, Frank Owens, was a small town general practitioner
, and her mother, Hazel is a retired law enforcement officer. She attended college at Duke University
. After graduation in 1971, she attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, receiving her JD
in 1975. She was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1975, and the Washington State Bar in 1976.
Washington Supreme Court
The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the judiciary of the U.S. state of Washington. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Justices. of the Court are elected to six-year terms...
. On November 7, 2000, she was elected the seventh woman to serve on the court. She joined the court after serving nineteen years as District Court Judge in Western Clallam County, where she was the county's senior elected official with five terms. She also served as the Quileute
Quileute
The Quileute , also known as the Quillayute , are a Native American people in westernWashington state in the United States, currently numbering approximately 750. The Quileute people settled onto the Quileute Indian Reservation after signing the Quinault Treaty in 1855...
Tribe's Chief Judge for five years and Chief Judge of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is a federally recognized and sovereign Native American nation. The tribe is part of the larger Klallam culture, part of the Coast Salish peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The traditional territory of the Klallam is the north and northeast portion of the Olympic...
for more than six years.
Owens was born and raised in Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
, where she graduated from high school. Her father, Frank Owens, was a small town general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, and her mother, Hazel is a retired law enforcement officer. She attended college at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. After graduation in 1971, she attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, receiving her JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1975. She was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1975, and the Washington State Bar in 1976.