Erika J. Evans Sworn In as Seattle City Attorney

Video courtesy of FOX13 Seattle.

Erika J. Evans was sworn in as Seattle’s new City Attorney during an oath of office ceremony at City Hall on Monday. Her inauguration marks not only a transition in leadership, but a historic moment as she becomes the first Black person to hold the position in the city. 

The program began with remarks from retired Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, the Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones, and Evans' campaign intern and University of Washington undergraduate student Towa Nakano-Harris. 

In her inaugural address, Evans spoke about what guides her.

"My purpose and northstar is serving others,” she said, saying that her career has been "grounded in public service” as a city prosecutor, a defense lawyer, and an assistant United States attorney.

Evans outlined her vision for the new office.

"In this new administration, we are going to be centering real results and accountability. We are going to be centering victims and community because public safety requires both,” she said, saying that her office will be "laser focused on domestic violence in DUI cases.” 

The City Attorney recounted the legacy of her grandfather Lee Evans, a two-time  track and field gold medalist who, at age 21, raised his first at the 1968 Olympic Games to “protest against the hate and division in our country." His legacy she carries forward, she said. 

Erika Evans concluded by thanking the people of Seattle. 

"You all made this possible because this election mattered. It mattered to our city. It mattered to our democracy,” she said. “It mattered to the young Black and brown people that now know that they too can and will be future Seattle city attorneys.”