Trini judge breaks judicial barriers in Washington

Washington State Supreme Justice G Helen Whitener. PHOTOS COURTESY www.judgehelenwhitener.com -
Washington State Supreme Justice G Helen Whitener. PHOTOS COURTESY www.judgehelenwhitener.com -

Trinidadians have been excelling in many fields all over the world for decades. And Justice Grace Helen Pierre-Whitener is yet another top achiever.

She was appointed to the Washington Supreme Court by state governor Jay Inslee on April 13. Pierre-Whitener, 55, took her oath of office on April 24.

In an interview with Sunday Newsday, she explained she was appointed to the Superior Court by Governor Inslee in 2015 to complete the one year left on the term of a retiring judge.

After that appointment she had to run for election and was elected to complete the remainder of the retired judge's term. In 2016, she was re-elected for a full four-year term.

"I was up for election again this year when Governor Inslee appointed me to the Washington State Supreme Court. This year, I will run for election for the remainder of the retired Supreme Court Justice whose term ends in 2022. If I prevail, I will then have to run that year for a full six-year term.

"I feel honoured and humbled. I wasn’t expecting it. It’s been a whirlwind experience so far. I’m still trying to close my Superior Court caseload while getting ready to take on my new workload. It has been exhausting, but I’m pushing through with a smile. This is a tremendous opportunity to serve all of the people of Washington State and I intend to be ready for it."

Born and raised in St Augustine, the young Pierre-Whitener wanted to become a teacher like her parents. However, a degenerative back condition put a halt to her dreams. While studying for her A-Levels at St George’s College, Barataria, she became paralysed on her right side and had to move to the US for medical treatment.

During her recovery, a relative told her O-Levels were equivalent to a high school diploma in the US and encouraged her to apply to college, so she did. She was accepted to Bernard M Baruch College in New York and did a degree in international marketing and trade.

“During my undergraduate degree, I did all sorts of odd jobs to include housekeeping, nanny, companion aide. When I graduated, I worked in international marketing and trade, (and) eventually landed in Anchorage, Alaska, where I worked in import and export marketing. I got tired of the cold weather and was planning on returning home when I took a position in an accounting firm in Washington State, and that is when law school became an option.”

Justice Whitener was privately sworn in by Chief Justice Debra L Stephens on April 24 via Zoom so her family could observe the special occasion from afar.Justice Whitener was privately sworn in by Chief Justice Debra L Stephens on April 24 via Zoom so her family could observe the special occasion from afar. -

She impressed a lawyer at the accounting firm while working with him on a project, and he remarked that she should go to law school. So, on her own, borrowing texts from the public library and studying at her kitchen table every night after work, she passed the law school admissions test.

While attending the Seattle University School of Law, Pierre-Whitener worked three jobs, including being a teaching assistant for criminal and contracts law professors. After graduating and passing the Bar examination, she worked as a prosecutor, defence attorney, a temporary judge in the district and municipal courts, and a Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals judge before being appointed as a Superior Court judge in 2015.

She told Sunday Newsday she did not expect to be a lawyer, much less a judge. Instead, she expected to be in TT teaching, because it was what she loved to do, and still does. She admired the work her parents did with their students and wanted to follow in their footsteps. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people and now she does, in a different field.

Pierre-Whitener said as part of her outreach she teaches a high school class called Street Law and set up a programme for young girls to meet and mingle with “judges of colour” so they could consider the judiciary as a career option.

"It has been an amazing journey, but it was made possible through hard work and good mentorship. I believed in me because there were people who believed in me. That’s why I mentor young people and teach and present to all levels of students from elementary school to judicial officers at judicial college."

Some of that support came from her parents, Lennard and Joyce Pierre, and her four siblings.

Pierre-Whitener said her mother wanted to be an attorney, so she was always supportive of her education and career goals. However, initially, she was not supportive when she learned her daughter was a lesbian.

“My father was always supportive of me, no matter what. It took my mother a little longer to get there, but she educated herself to a better understanding of who I really am, that I am no different than her other children and today, she is very supportive of me.”

She said her sexuality could have been a challenge in her life and career, but she chose not to be silenced or marginalised.

“Labels society places on others many times are limiting. I refuse to be limited and defined by these labels and I use myself as an example of why they should not be given much import. The labels used to define me do not tell you anything about my capabilities.”

Pierre-Whitener said she refused to let other people’s intolerance for who she loved be a hindrance, though she said her race and gender made her journey more difficult.

“Access was a huge challenge as there were very few judges who were like me. The judiciary was and is still very white and male.

"I was determined to have them see the quality in my work. I was the first, or I was one of a handful of individuals, in many legal positions, and I knew if I did not do well it would make it even more difficult for those you were going to follow. So instead of seeing obstacles as difficult and I knew that failure was never an option, but rather, it was an opportunity to succeed. I saw these situations as allowing me to control and write my own narrative while paving a path for others similarly situated.”

She said she was encouraged by the strides people in TT have made towards the LGBT+ community.

“It looks like we are learning that we have more in common with each other than we have differences. Many of us are returning home as it is a more welcoming environment.”

To those in the community, she gave the same advice her father gave her, “To thine own self be true. Live your life to the fullest as you only have one go around.”

Pierre-Whitener said although she has not been to TT since 2017 because of her hectic schedule, she still loved TT including the people, food, beaches, fetes, and the music.

She said while her brother, his wife and son lived on the east coast of the US, and she and her wife live on the west coast, her three older siblings, mother, and numerous extended family still live in TT.

“I miss everything about home and I really miss the food. My favourite dishes are East Indian dishes, roti, pholourie, doubles, etc. I must have it every time I visit home or someone comes to visit.

“I miss many things from back home and I still cook the food, listen to the music, keep in touch with my family weekly where I am still connected. It is part of who I am and will always be. I am very proud of my TT heritage. I love my adopted country but I am a ‘Trini to de bone.’”

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