Dear IFJC Community,

It is with great excitement that we introduce you to the newest member of our team, Eilish Villa Malone, our vibrant Executive Director! A dedicated attorney and graduate of Seattle University School of Law (2019), she brings not just legal expertise but a heartfelt commitment to weaving threads of equity, diversity, and inclusion into the fabric of our non-profit mission.

Eilish isn’t just an attorney; she is a beacon of hope for our immigrant community, a passionate advocate who believes in the power of justice to transform lives. In her own words, “I’m overjoyed to continue this journey with IFJC, extending a helping hand to in-need immigrant individuals requiring assistance in navigating the complicated and often inaccessible family law system. I’m also excited to connect with interested advocates, attorneys, students, donors, and volunteers because they are the ones who make this work possible.”

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to providing solace and support to indigent immigrants facing the tumultuous waters of family legal matters, especially those caught in the storms of domestic abuse. Every contribution, big or small, fuels the flame of change. We invite you to join us on this journey—volunteer your time, share your stories, and become a part of our story.

Welcome, Eilish, to the IFJC team! Together, with passion and purpose, we’ll script a chapter of compassion, justice, and love.

Warmly,

IFJC Board of Directors

IFJC Co-Founder Naoko Shatz and Executive Director Linda Inagawa testified in strong support for Senate Bill 5984 on January 22nd , and today it passed! See the full text here: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5984%20SBR%20LAW%2020.pdf?q=20200204220005

Today, IFJC Co-Founder Naoko Shatz and Executive Director Linda Inagawa travelled to Olympia, Washington to testify in support of Senate Bill 5984, authored by Senator Lisa Wellman, at the Law and Justice Committee Meeting in the Washington State Senate. This Bill would require all documents in cases involving divorces to be translated or interpreted for foreign-born spouses. Naoko testified giving examples of the many cases she has witnessed where due to cultural and linguistic barriers, the outcomes were bleak due to spouses unknowingly signing away their rights. Linda testified that despite over 160 languages spoken in our state, which is the third most linguistically diverse in the nation, each WA State resident has a right to equal justice.

IFJC Co-Founder Anthony Gipe was appointed by the Mayor of Kent to become judge in the Kent Municipal Court. Today he was sworn in! Several IFJC Board members were able to attend this ceremony, and we are very proud of him! Judge Gipe has recused himself of all IFJC operations, but he is able to continue to provide educational training for our volunteer attorneys, general CLE Trainings, IFJC Naval Base Special Trainings and for Judicial International Family Law Educational Trainings.

Registration has closed.

Event Information:

Location: The Arctic Club Seattle
Address: 700 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Date: June 7, 2019.