Tarra Simmons

Tarra Denelle Simmons[1] (born 1977)[2] is an American politician, lawyer, and civil rights activist for criminal justice reform.[3]

Tarra Simmons
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 23rd district
Assumed office
January 11, 2021
Serving with Greg Nance
Preceded bySherry Appleton
Personal details
Born
Tarra Denelle Simmons

1977 (age 45–46)
Olympia, Washington, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
Residence(s)Bremerton, Washington, U.S.
EducationOlympic College (AA)
Pacific Lutheran University (BS)
Seattle University (JD)
Known forBeing formerly incarcerated and winning Washington Supreme Court case to sit on the Washington State Bar Association exam

In 2011 Simmons was sentenced to 30 months in prison for theft and drug crimes.[4] In 2017, she graduated from Seattle University School of Law with honors. After law school, she was not allowed to sit for the Washington State bar exam due to her status as a former convicted felon, thus she challenged the Washington State Bar Association rules in the Washington State Supreme Court and won; the court unanimously ruled in her favor. She was later sworn in as an attorney in the State of Washington on June 16, 2018.[5]

Simmons is the executive director for a nonprofit focused on assisting those that are formerly incarcerated, known as the Civil Survival Project. She has two children.[6]

In 2020, Simmons was elected to the Washington House of Representatives for District 23-Position 1.[7] Her victory is assumed to be the first legislative race to be won by a felon in the state of Washington.[6] Currently, Simmons serves on the committees for Appropriations, Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry, Health Care and Wellness, and Rules. She also serves as the Vice Chair for the Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee.[8]

References
  1. "Supreme Court rules law student who turned life around can take bar exam". King5. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  2. "Legislative Manual 2021-2022" (PDF). Washington State Legislature.
  3. "Tarra Simmons for State Representative". Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  4. Jenkins, Austin. "Vindicated By Supreme Court, Lawyer With Criminal Past Now Finds She's Campaign Fodder". www.nwnewsnetwork.org. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  5. "In Bar Application of Simmons (Majority)". Justia Law. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  6. Free, Cathy. "She is a former addict and prisoner. She was just elected to the state house in Washington". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  7. "Tarra Simmons". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  8. "Representatives". leg.wa.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
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