In each issue of Bar News, WSBA President Adewale will ask one Washington legal professional, one “Hero of Justice,” to share how they came to practice law.
Justin Bingham
Spokane city prosecutor
My fascination with the law began early. As a child, I devoured anything related to history, government, or legal systems, even when my classmates found those interests a little odd. Still, I felt at home in that world of dense history books and legal treatises. By the fifth grade, I had already announced that I would become a lawyer, and from that moment forward I pursued that goal with unwavering focus. Looking back, that determination served me well. While science and mathematics never came naturally to me, communication did, and that strength ultimately carried me into the profession I had dreamed of for so long.
Despite how straightforward my path may appear, it was anything but simple. I grew up in rural Tennessee, a place where racism, discrimination, and poverty were woven into daily life. For much of my childhood, I was naïve to the realities faced by people of color and those living in deep poverty. That changed shortly after my high school graduation, when a single, unexpected encounter reshaped my understanding of fairness, opportunity, and justice. It was my “aha moment,” the realization that not everyone begins life with the same advantages, and that my own achievements were shaped, in part, by circumstances I had once taken for granted.
That shift in perspective profoundly influences how I see the world and how I practice law. Fairness and empathy are not abstract ideals to me; they are essential components of meaningful advocacy. Lawyers hold tremendous power to shape outcomes that affect people’s lives. Approaching each case with kindness, humility, and an appreciation for every client’s story is, in my view, fundamental to ensuring justice is truly served. The world is rarely black and white. Lawyers help illuminate the nuance, context, and humanity that exist in every situation, ensuring that every person has the opportunity to be heard.
In many ways, I am still that curious kid who loved history and found inspiration in the law. Becoming a lawyer remains one of the greatest honors of my life, and I am grateful that the determined fifth-grader from rural Tennessee never let go of his dream!