OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington voters may shift the balance of the Washington Supreme Court as five seats are open or up for reelection in November, marking the first time in recent history that a majority of the court’s seats are up for election at the same time.
“It is something they are supremely unconfident about, likely confused, and possibly simply won’t vote,” said Karen Crowley, President of the Snohomish County Chapter of the League of Women Voters, who conducted a questionnaire for one of the areas of the ballot LVW says people feel least informed on.
Crowley says the decisions made by Supreme Court justices can have far-reaching impacts on Washington residents.
“The Supreme Court is a co-equal branch of government with the Legislature and with the governor,” Crowley said. “Equally powerful, the decisions they make will be affecting us.”
Because justices serve six-year terms, opportunities to reshape the court are relatively rare.
When multiple seats are open at once, the makeup of the court can change substantially.
“When you have that many positions open, you will have a change likely in the perspectives of your justices,” Crowley said.
Why judicial races can be difficult for voters
Unlike candidates for governor, Congress or other high-profile offices, judicial candidates often have lower name recognition.
“Are the resumes for justices as known as some of the other elected representatives that we put into office?” Crowley said. “I’d suggest no, they’re probably not. For most of us truly in the state, we haven’t had any connection with the court system, so we have no sense of their experience in this regard.”
That challenge has prompted organizations to create resources to help voters make informed decisions.
League of Women Voters offers candidate interviews
The League of Women Voters of Washington has assembled a voter guide featuring interviews with every Supreme Court candidate on the ballot.
Each candidate is asked the same four questions and given the same amount of time to answer.
“The interviews are timed so that they all are exactly given the same opportunity to answer the questions,” Crowley said.
Among the questions candidates are asked:
- What are the benefits or drawbacks of being a judge before running for the Washington Supreme Court?
- How would you approach a case in an area of law where you have little or no experience?
- When is it appropriate for the judiciary to overturn a statute or a voter-approved referendum?
- Is there a judge or justice, past or present, whom you most admire?
The standardized format is intended to help voters compare candidates side by side and better understand their judicial philosophies and qualifications.
Additional resources available
The League also directs voters to additional resources, including candidate interviews produced by TVW.
Unlike structured question-and-answer sessions, those interviews allow candidates to introduce themselves and explain their views directly to voters.
“Not answering scripted questions, just simply having them make their statement to you,” Crowley said.
Crowley says having access to multiple sources of information is essential, particularly because Washington voters directly elect Supreme Court justices.
The Washington Supreme Court Website also displays which candidates are vying for which seats.