Michael S. Spearman

Michael Spearman attended Lawrence High School from 1967 to 1970. He was an active member of the school’s Black Student Union, helping lead efforts to secure Black faculty, Black history classes, and other reforms. These goals were ultimately achieved—but only after a two-hour student sit-in at the principal’s office and the strong support of the students’ parents.

Michael also competed in gymnastics and track, winning the 1970 state gymnastics championship on the horizontal bar and setting the school record in the high jump.

After high school, Michael attended Brown University and New York University School of Law. Between college and law school, he moved to Houston, Texas, planning a career in labor law. There, he worked in an oil tools manufacturing plant—first as a forklift driver and later as a machinist. As a union steward in the International Association of Machinists, he represented a diverse group of workers and saw firsthand their shared desire to be treated fairly, support their families, and work in a safe environment.

After law school, Michael moved to Seattle, Washington, and spent 12 years as a public defender in both state and federal courts, ultimately becoming Chief of the Felony Division. In 1993, he was appointed to the King County Superior Court, where he served as a trial judge for 14 years. During his time as both a public defender and a judge, he also served on the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission, advocating for sentencing reform and the elimination of racial, gender, and class bias.

After leaving the trial court, Michael became a private mediator, helping parties resolve disputes without the stress and expense of a trial. He also served as a monitor for the Seattle Police Department, reviewing misconduct allegations and recommending reforms to improve community relations. In 2010, he was appointed to the Washington State Court of Appeals, where he served for eight years.

Michael’s commitment to justice was shaped early by his parents, John and Vernell Spearman, longtime civil rights advocates in Lawrence. Their example—and his union experience—inspired his lifelong dedication to equity. Whether representing clients, presiding from the bench, or working in the community, he strived to ensure the justice system served everyone fairly.

Now retired, Michael lives in Seattle with his wife, Mariane. Their son, Mike, also lives in Seattle, and their daughter, Samantha, lives in London with her husband.