Posted on 02/04/2004 12:09:10 PM PST by humboldtconservative
OLYMPIA, Wash. - This buff justice gives new meaning to the words "bench press."
State Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland won her second national powerlifting championship last weekend, grabbing a spot for herself on the USA Masters Team for world competition.
On Saturday, the 61-year-old justice broke the American squat record for her age and weight with a 198-pound lift. In the deadlift, Ireland set a personal record of 253 pounds.
She's proudest of her 133-pound bench press not just because it set another national record, but because she achieved her long-standing personal goal of benching more than her 130-pound weight.
"That's kind of a mark among people who lift weights," the gym-savvy judge explained. "At my age, I'm happy to do it!"
Twenty years ago, Ireland was overweight, out-of-shape and nearly crippled by back pain from a car accident. She started lifting weights about four years ago as physical therapy for her back, and says it has transformed her life.
Now she weighs 30 pounds less, feels great and enjoys the confidence that comes from knowing she could lift many of her co-workers over her head.
"Powerlifting has been a personal fountain of youth for me," Ireland said.
Ireland brings the same discipline and focus to her workouts that she brings to her legal career. She lifts weights three times a week, working around the heavy schedule of a Supreme Court justice.
"I build my life schedule around my workout," she said. "I have to in order to make it work."
Her advice to anyone who's wavering on their New Year's get-in-shape resolutions: work out with a buddy or a personal trainer, schedule your sessions for the same times each week so you get into the habit, but also vary your workouts so you don't get bored.
Ireland said it's an easy choice for her because if she skips too many workouts, her back starts to hurt again. Plus, she said, building her brawn helps make her brain sharper when she switches from the gym bench to the Supreme Court bench.
"Powerlifting is intense and it helps me focus and concentrate at work," she said.
She watches what she eats and tries to limit her carbs with a "Zone" type of diet though she gleefully celebrated her recent victory with pizza.
Ireland won the 2002 National Powerlifting Championship in her age and weight class, and won a bronze medal in the Masters World Bench Press competition last year.
She's looking forward to the next international bench press meet in Slovakia in April, and the worldwide powerlifting competition in India next October.
"I hope to get to see the Taj Mahal," Ireland said. "I would never have expected that powerlifting would take me so many places!"
Justice Faith Ireland was elected by the voters in 1998 after serving fifteen years as a judge of the Superior Court.
After receiving her B.A. from the University of Washington, Justice Ireland graduated one of two women in her class at Willamette University School of Law in Salem, Oregon in 1969. She began her legal career with the firm of McCune, Godfrey and Emerick in the University District of Seattle and in 1974 opened a sole practice in Pioneer Square. She handled family law cases, real estate matters and tried civil and criminal cases all over Washington State. She returned to school while working full time and received her master's degree in Taxation with honors from Golden Gate University. She was a founding member of Washington Women Lawyer's and a board member of the Washington State Trial Lawyer's Association.
Governor John Spellman - (R) appointed Justice Ireland to the King County Superior Court in 1983. She won a contested election and was re-elected without opposition to four additional terms. She served six years on the Board of the Superior Court Judges Association and was elected as its President in 1996-1997. She was Vice-Chair of the Board for Judicial Administration from 1996-1998.
Justice Ireland has had an enthusiastic interest in professional development for the judiciary. She served as Dean of the Washington Judicial College, and was a member of the Board for Court Education. Justice Ireland received the Distinguished Service Award from the national Leadership Institute in Judicial Education in 1998. She serves as the Education Committee Chair for the Supreme Court and as a member of the Appellate Judges Education Committee.
Justice Ireland serves as the President of the Washington Chapter of the American Judicature Society, which is dedicated to improving the administration of justice in America. She also serves as a member of the Council on Public Legal Education.
For her efforts in helping to diversify the judiciary, Justice Ireland received recognition from the Asian, Hispanic, Loren Miller and N.W. Indian Bar Associations. She was named Judge of the Year by the Washington State Trial Lawyer's Association and received the President's and Vanguard awards from Washington Women Lawyers.
Justice Ireland has served on numerous civic and charitable boards. She was named "Chinese Man of the Year" for her efforts in helping to found the Wing Luke Asian Museum.
She lives with her husband, Chuck Norem, in south Seattle. Her hobbies include downhill skiing and powerlifting. For her age and weight class, she won the USAPL Women's National Championship in 2002 and the Washington State Championship for 2001 and 2002.
Born in Seattle in 1942, she was raised in Burien, Washington, where she graduated from Highline High School in 1960.
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