Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« The Case of the Mysterious Letter | WA's First Same-Sex Marriage »

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Gay Marriage Who's Marrying the First Gay Couple? Judge Mary Yu

Posted by Dominic Holden on Sat, Dec 8, 2012 at 2:10 PM

Via Seattle Channel
JUDGE MARY YU Will marry you.

It's almost too perfect. King County just announced that the county's first same-sex wedding will be officiated by a justice with the perfect name for the job: Judge Mary Yu. Ringing in Washington State's new marriage-equality law, she'll marry Sarah and Emily Cofer tonight at 12:01 a.m.

Formerly a manager for the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and appointed to the superior court bench here in 2000, Judge Yu will marry several more couples in the early morning hours, King County reports, including Brendon Taga and Jesse Page. They were the second couple in line Thursday to get their marriage certificate authorized.

Yu, as we reported Wednesday, is among seven judges who volunteered to come into the courthouse Sunday, their day off, after learning that City Hall's Sunday wedding docket was overflowing with couples who wanted to get married. "The court just realized that the community needs our services, and we are happy to provide them," Judge Susan Craighead told me.

Judge Mary Yu is taking the court's first shift, beginning at midnight.

FacebookShare

Comments (22) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Judge Yu is also an outstanding jurist and would be a great pick for WA Supreme Court.

Posted by YakHerder on December 8, 2012 at 2:46 PM

Judge Mary, I love Yu.

Posted by Tacoma Traveler on December 8, 2012 at 2:56 PM

..........
..........
..........
..........
..........
I just got that.

Posted by douchus on December 8, 2012 at 3:15 PM

I'm so in love with our city. Swoon!

Posted by case on December 8, 2012 at 3:34 PM

I'm pretending that @2 stole my line, because it is brilliant.

Posted by Hanoumatoi on December 8, 2012 at 3:53 PM

I just want to have an Internet fight with her. YU MAD?

Posted by sirkowski

on December 8, 2012 at 4:38 PM

My birthday is Monday, and I want a bunch of very happily newly married people celebrating their weddings for my birthday. This is beyond cool. Congrats to everyone tying the knot tomorrow.

Posted by SeattleKim on December 8, 2012 at 4:39 PM

5,

Yu can thank me by sending me wedding invitations.

Posted by Tacoma Traveler on December 8, 2012 at 5:33 PM

@1 Word.

Posted by Some Old Nobodaddy Logged In on December 8, 2012 at 5:55 PM

word is Mary is weary of Slogs repeated infantile posts mocking her name.

she refers all questions to her cousin, Fuk.

Posted by if you don't get it Dom ask and we'll explain it. on December 8, 2012 at 6:41 PM

CUZ THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS BORN TUH DO!

Posted by deepconcentration on December 8, 2012 at 8:11 PM

Judge Yu finalized the adoption process for the Meat Weapon family. We often speak well of her when reviewing the photos from that day, one in which she cradles our then 5-month-old daughter. She became a significant part of our family history when she made us a family, and Meat Weapon Jr. still loves the official "adoption bear" judge Yu gave her that day. I'm so glad she'll get this honor, and grateful she's willing to take the first red-eye shift.

Posted by Meat Weapon on December 8, 2012 at 9:23 PM

Wow. This has been a tiring week for Sarah and Emily - they're real troopers!

Posted by tunanator on December 8, 2012 at 11:54 PM

My husband misheard me when I told him the Judge marrying the first same-sex couples in Washington was named "Marry You" and thought I said "Merry Hue." He grinned and gave me a thumbs up and said it fit so well because of the rainbow. I guess there is a double rainbow in Judge Mary Yu's name!

Posted by heartfelt on December 9, 2012 at 6:50 AM

14

is he ever not stoned?

Posted by please tell us you've had him fixed on December 9, 2012 at 9:44 AM

I agree with @1, Judge Yu is a wonderful human being in addition to all else that is said about her qualifications. And a FoD.

Posted by sperifera on December 9, 2012 at 10:49 AM

nice picture.

ha Mary always been a woman?.....

Posted by num-num on December 9, 2012 at 1:41 PM

@12-Meat Weapon. That is a beautiful story. congrats on the adoption and the creation of your happy family.

Posted by Tor on December 9, 2012 at 4:27 PM

@17 dipshit.

Posted by Hawke

on December 9, 2012 at 4:29 PM

19 yeah. that was low. we are ashamed.

Posted by ...we will be seeking redemption for years on December 9, 2012 at 6:30 PM

Judge Yu's staff -- her bailiff, her clerks, her court reporters, everybody -- also volunteered their time to be there as well, even though they were not legally required for the ceremonies. They just wanted to be there to help. That's true of a number of the other courtrooms as well...

Posted by Mr. Happy Sunshine on December 10, 2012 at 9:03 AM

Judge Yu's staff and the justice herself are some of the warmest, most wonderful folks I've ever encountered. She officiated our marriage at 1:30am on December 9th. We were delirious and nervous but everyone made certain we were comfortable and the event was magical. Thank you, Judge Yu and Takao and everyone else who ensured a memorable moment in our lives!

Posted by Fighty Almighty on December 10, 2012 at 2:23 PM