Lifelong Spokanite Jacquelyn High-Edward gets high marks from peers as she replaces retiring Judge Maryann Moreno

Jacquelyn High-Edward has spent her legal career dedicated to ensuring equal access to justice, something she’ll be tasked with on a larger scale now that she is a Spokane County Superior Court judge.

High-Edward, 49, was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to fill the vacancy left by Judge Maryann Moreno’s retirement at the end of June. She was sworn in Friday morning.

A lifelong Spokanite, High-Edward attended North Central High School before earning a degree in political science from Western Washington University.

After college, she worked at a technology company in its human resources department. She had always been interested in law, so when the company downsized, High-Edward took a chance and went back to school.

She graduated from the Gonzaga University School of Law in 2005. She also has a master’s degree in criminal justice from Washington State University.