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About Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson is Washington State’s 18th Attorney General. As the state’s chief legal officer, Bob is committed to protecting the people of Washington against powerful interests that don’t play by the rules. He is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, a graduate of the University of Washington and New York University law school. Bob and his wife, Colleen, are the proud parents of 16-year-old twins, Jack and Katie.
Interesting facts about Bob Ferguson:
- Bob has hiked hundreds of miles of Washington trails and climbed many of the state's highest peaks. Bob has summited the highest point in 45 of the 50 United States.
- His family homesteaded on the beautiful Skagit River, which may explain why Bob is such an enthusiastic mountain climber, backpacker, and birder.
- Bob is an internationally rated chess master and twice won the Washington State Chess Championship.
- Bob is an avid baseball fan and once took a trip with a college buddy to see a baseball game in every major league stadium.
- Bob began his legal career in Spokane. He clerked for two federal judges before returning to Seattle to join Preston, Gates, and Ellis (now K&L Gates) where his civil litigation practice included work on behalf of taxpayers, corporations and small businesses.
As Attorney General, Bob Ferguson has:
| Awards & Honors |
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- Handed President Trump his first legal defeat when he successfully blocked President Trump’s first executive order barring travel from seven Muslim-majority nations. Went on to stop dozen of illegal presidential actions and policies that would have harm Washington.
- Stood up to large drug companies that helped fuel the opioid epidemic and won $1.2 billion and counting that will be used to combat the opioid and fentanyl crisis in communities all across Washington.
- Won an important case for the rights of same-sex couples in Washington when he filed a consumer protection lawsuit against a Richland florist for refusing to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding. Bob personally argued this case in front of the Washington State Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously in favor of the state.
- Won the two largest campaign finance penalties in United State history, ever.
- Formed the Wing Luke Civil Rights Division, the first office within the Attorney General’s Office dedicated to protecting the civil rights of everyone in Washington.
- Filed multiple legal actions against presidents of both parties regarding the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, first for delaying cleanup of nuclear waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and then for putting hundreds of Hanford workers at risk of exposure to harmful toxic waste. Both lawsuits led to successful outcomes.
- Created the Counsel for Environmental Protection within the Attorney General’s Office to protect our environment and the safety and health of all Washingtonians.
- Created the Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance within the Attorney General’s Office to help current and former service members find pro bono legal assistance.
- Launched an Organized Retail Crime Unit to investigate and prosecute organized retail crimes that put workers and shopper at risk and devastate our local economy.
- Helped lead the successful effort to end Washington’s rape kit backlog in partnership with survivors of sexual assault, law enforcement and legislators.