Biography
Hickory Gateless serves as the Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Northwest Justice Project - Washington's largest civil legal aid provider. Prior to NJP Hickory was focused on advocacy in collaboration with young people in foster care or experiencing homelessness, most recently serving as the Deputy Director at the Mockingbird Society - a statewide organization focused on transforming foster care and ending youth homelessness. There, he helped advance the organization's vision, lead strategic planning efforts, and develop a more inclusive culture focused on becoming a more anti-racist organization. Previously, Hickory managed the Lawyers Fostering Independence Program for the Center for Children and Youth Justice. In that role, he oversaw program staff, 100+ volunteer attorneys, and developed community relationships to provide young people with access to civil legal aid. Before dedicating his career to social justice issues full time, he was a constitutional and appellate attorney at Pacifica Law Group, and clerked for Associate Chief Justice Charles W. Johnson and U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin H. Settle. Hickory graduated magna cum laude in 2008 from Seattle University with a joint J.D. / M.B.A.
In his personal time, Hickory enjoys spending as much time as possible with his two young boys and his wife. He and his family also devote time to skiing, backpacking, and gardening.
