About Councilmember Debora Juarez
Council district: 5
In office since: 2025
Current term: July 2025 – November 2026
Debora Juarez has built a 35-year career focused on legal advocacy and economic development for the most marginalized communities in our state. Debora is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation. She is one of six children born to a Native American mother and a first-generation Mexican-American father, and was also the first Indigenous woman to hold the position of Seattle City Council President in the City’s 154-year history.
After growing up on the reservation, she became the first member of her family to go to college. She completed her undergraduate degree at Western Washington University before attending the Seattle University School of Law. During her last two years of law school Debora began her career in public service, working as a public defender for indigent clients by day while attending law school in the evenings.
After five years as a public defender she began working at Evergreen Legal Services (currently The Northwest Justice Project). She served for two years as a pro-tem judge for the King County Superior Court and City of Seattle Municipal Court. Debora was later appointed to serve as a full-time King County Superior Court Judge by Washington State Governor Mike Lowry and later by Governor Gary Locke, as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Eventually, Debora joined a major Wall Street investment firm and created a first-rate Tribal Practice Group. and ultimately partnered with the Williams Kastner law firm, who welcomed her vision of focusing economic empowerment and development beyond tribal lands.
Debora retired from public office in 2023. Today, Debora lives in North Seattle with her husband, Michael, where they enjoy entertaining friends, visits with their children and grandchildren.
An inspiration for many, Debora continues to make an impact in the community, asking people to walk with her, rather than asking them to follow her as a leader.