Barbara Madsen, chief justice of the Washington Supreme Court, is to be the featured speaker at a branch meeting of AAUW Port Townsend, set for 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.

The meeting is to be the first of several upcoming AAUW programs focused on “Women in Charge.”

Chief Justice Madsen is to describe her personal journey to the highest court in our state, explain how issues come before the Supreme Court and outline recent court decisions in the areas of education and equity.

Madsen graduated from the Gonzaga School of Law in 1977 and has served in a variety of legal positions, including public defender, special prosecutor for the City of Seattle and presiding judge in Seattle Municipal Court. She was first elected to the state Supreme Court in 1992, and has been re-elected in every election since. For the most recent two terms, she has been elected by her peers to the position of chief justice.

Madsen is on the general election ballot this year, opposed by Greg Zempel.

AAUW Port Townsend and its affiliate, the University Women's Foundation of Jefferson County, promote education and equity through various scholarships and awards, middle school career days and elementary school projects in literacy and math.

For more information on AAUW programs, projects and membership, visit

pt-wa.aauw.net or contact Anne Englander at 390-5896.