Retired jurist Durham had distinguished career

As a child, Barbara Durham was bright and inquisitive, always quick to question -- traits that would serve her well during a distinguished career as a lawyer and judge.


	"Her hobby, and her whole life, was the law," her sister said of retired jurist Barbara Durham.

"She argued about everything," recalled her sister, Mary Jo Durham. "It'd be, 'Eat your peas, Barbara.' 'Why? I don't like peas. Why do I have to do this?' "

Barbara Durham also knew exactly what she wanted, her sister said, and from a young age it was to become a lawyer.

The retired state Supreme Court chief justice, who died yesterday at age 60 following a lengthy illness, achieved her dream and kept going. Her accomplishments included becoming the first female chief judge in the state appellate courts and the first woman chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

Mary Jo Durham said law was her sister's passion.

"She really liked what she did," said Mary Jo Durham, who lives in Mount Vernon. "Her hobby, and her whole life, was the law. Some people have a job and they have hobbies. She had a job -- that was it."

Barbara Durham's husband, retired physician Charles Divelbiss, said his wife was appointed by then-President Clinton to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but she could not accept the position because of a neurological disease she was diagnosed with about four years ago. He declined to elaborate on his wife's illness, pending the results of an autopsy performed yesterday.

Barbara Durham resigned from her position as state Supreme Court justice in September 1999.

Divelbiss said his wife of 23 years had a strong interest in federal and state politics and counted numerous politicians among her circle of friends. She liked to throw dinner parties, enjoyed cooking and made a mean chocolate mousse.

She was a vivacious person, a "striking beauty" who as a younger woman drew comparisons to Marilyn Monroe, Divelbiss said.

The couple lived in Seattle most of her career before moving to Oak Harbor three years ago.

Barbara Durham was born on Oct. 6, 1942, in Anacortes. After graduating from Vashon Island High School in 1960 she attended Gonzaga University and then Georgetown University, graduating cum laude in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

After working a year as a securities analyst in New York City, Barbara Durham enrolled in law school at Stanford University and graduated in 1968. She began her practice as a deputy prosecuting attorney in King County, prosecuting primarily felony cases. She was appointed to the Mercer Island District Court in 1973 and to the King County Superior Court in 1977, where she served until being appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1980.

Four years later, Barbara Durham became the first woman chief judge in the state appellate courts. She was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1985 and became the first female chief justice in 1995. A constitutional amendment approved by voters the same year allowed her to be re-elected as chief justice in 1996, making her the first person to hold the position for a four-year term.

Barbara Durham is the only member of the court to have served at all four court levels.

Her accolades including receiving the William O'Douglas Award from the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association in 1998, in recognition of 20 years of service in the state. She was named 1995 Judge of the Year by both the King County Bar Association and King County Washington Women Lawyers. The following year, she received a Woman of Achievement award from the Seattle chapter of the Association for Women in Communications.

She served on numerous judicial boards and commissions, including the Commission of Washington Courts and the Code of Judicial Conduct Task Force. She was also active in judicial education and was the co-founder of the Judges in the Classroom project, under which judges from Washington state courts provide lessons on law to K-12 students. Additionally, Barbara Durham served on the board of visitors for Stanford University and the University of Washington law schools.

"I was just very proud of her," Divelbiss said. "She had a lot of honors, and she deserved them."

A memorial fund has been established in Barbara Durham's name. Contributions to the Barbara Durham Memorial Fund for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases can be sent to the University of Washington Medical Center Department of Neurology, Box 356465, Seattle, WA 98195, Attn: Jeneil Legasse.

A memorial service will be held Feb. 14.

P-I reporter Deborah Bach can be reached at 206-448-8197 or deborahbach@seattlepi.com

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