Background
BECKER, MARY was born on October 24, 1946 in Aberdeen, Washington, District of Columbia, United States.
BECKER, MARY was born on October 24, 1946 in Aberdeen, Washington, District of Columbia, United States.
Stanford University (Bachelor of Arts, 1966). University of Washington (Juris Doctor, 1982). Member, University of Washington Law Review, 1981-1982.
Washington State Representative, 42nd District, 1975-1983.
Member, Whatcom County Council, 1984-1986. Member, Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission, 1982-1983.
She is a graduate of Lake Quinault High School, and earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford University in 1966. After moving to Bellingham in 1969, Becker began her career as a paralegal for Northwest Washington Legal Services. She served as an early editor of the underground newspaper Northwest Passage.
In 1974 she wrote the fictional Superspill: An Account of the 1978 Grounding at Bird Rocks (Madrona Press, Seattle) with Patricia Coburn.
From 1975 to 1983, she served as a Democratic state representative for the 42nd district. Described at the time as "one of the most articulate voices in the Legislature", "one of the bright lights of the state Democratic party" and "an unequivocal liberal", she chose not to run for re-election in 1982.
She earned her law degree in 1982 from the University of Washington School of Law and worked as a private practice lawyer until 1994, when she was appointed to the Court of Appeals. She was elected to the Court of Appeals position in 1994.
She was retained by voters in 2000 and 2006 and her current term ends in 2012.
She has also worked as a member of the Whatcom County Council (1984-1985) and on the Western Washington University board of trustees (1989–1994).