The Washington State Supreme court is effectively on the ballot this year.
Our state Constitution says that “the judges of the supreme court shall be elected by the qualified electors of the state.”
But today, more than 80% of our judges first reached the bench through appointment, not election. Five of the current candidates running were originally appointed by a governor rather than chosen by voters.
This creates an imbalance in our system of checks and balances. One branch of government is deciding who sits on another. That’s selection — not election. The constitution allows appointments meant to cover a true vacancy such as an unexpected death or illness. That is not how the vacancy provision is being used.
This election gives voters a rare chance to restore their constitutional right to choose judges directly and to reduce the political influence that has crept into the process.
Five Supreme Court seats are on the ballot. Each seat has one challenger who was not appointed. These five unappointed candidates share a judicial philosophy:
• The constitution protects citizens from government overreach
• The people — not the government — are the ultimate holders of power.
In short, these candidates are constitutionalists.
Ask yourself: Do you want a judge who interprets the Constitution to fit a decision — or a judge who starts with the Constitution as written?
V.L.A. Parker
Olympia
