Herbert M. Stephens (1918-2000) was appointed as a judge to the King County Superior Court in 1974, becoming the second Black person to serve as a superior judge in Washington. Born in Oklahoma, Stephens graduated from Morehouse College and received a law degree from the University of Washington. In addition to his law practice, he also served on the Washington State Board Against Discrimination, was active in the Urban League and the NAACP, and was a King County deputy prosecutor before his appointment as judge.

This image shows Seattle District Court Judge Charles Stokes helping Herbert Stephens with his robes at Stephens' swearing in, as other judges of the King County Superior Court watch.

Caption information source: "Black attorney appointed to county Superior Court bench," by Maribeth Morris, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 24, 1974, page A11.
Caption information source: "New Superior Court judge," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 9, 1974, page A3.
Caption information source: "Herbert M. Stephens," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 22, 2000, page B7.