You're A First: Judge Mary Yu

Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu to the Washington state Supreme Court. Appointed as a judge in 2000 by then-Gov. Gary Locke, Yu will be the first openly gay justice, and the first Asian American, on the state’s high court. King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu was appointed to the Washington state Supreme Court on Thursday, becoming the first openly gay justice, as well as the first Asian American, to serve on the state’s high court. The 56-year-old, one of 19 applicants for the seat being vacated by Justice James Johnson, was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday. Johnson, considered the court’s most conservative member, announced his retirement last month, citing health issues. He left the bench Wednesday.

I know at the end of the day that it shouldn't matter and that at some point it doesn't need to be stated (and some people would argue that it doesn't or shouldn't be now) but the fact that it has mattered, is why at least to me, it matters now.

Go Go Washington State Supreme Court.

You're A First: Gia Ly

From the OC Register:

Gia Ly is co-owner of Crepe Corner and family business Zen Vegetarian Restaurant in Westminster. In addition she is also an owner of Arrow GTP, a company which works with Google to produce virtual interior tours of buildings which appear on Google maps. She's also the first female chair of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce in Orange County.

You Could Be A First: Paul M. Yee Jr.

I keep on getting amazed at how many firsts are going on this year - in part because in a way, you just really never know how many barriers we've never broken, until we step up - until we hear about it - and you know what?

It's pretty MF cool when we do.

A Brookline lawyer who grew up in Chinatown could become the first Asian-American judge assigned to Quincy District Court.

Paul M. Yee Jr. told the Governor’s Council on Wednesday that his background and sense of fairness and impartiality would “help contribute to Quincy.”

The council will vote next week on the appointment.

Gov. Deval Patrick nominated Yee to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gregory R. Baler.

John Brothers, executive director of Quincy Asian Resources, applauded the choice.

“We feel (Yee’s) employment would be a great step forward,” Brothers said. “We hope he will serve as a role model for Asian youth in Quincy and show public service is a great career option.”

Read it in full here.