Full Court Press WA

⌛️Just 5 days until ballots are due for Washington's Primary Election! Voter turnout is running about 2% behind the 2022 primary. This year, voters will decide which candidates advance in 4 Washington State Supreme Court races. Learn about the candidates before you vote: wasupremecourt.org. ⌛️Your vote matters

In the 2026 election cycle, Washington State will hold 141 judicial elections. 11 of those races involve Superior Court, Court of Appeals, and state Supreme Court judges first appointed through the “resign-and-appoint” practice—where a sitting judge steps down mid-term and the governor names a successor, often just before the filing deadline. That move limits—or completely bypass—an open election. A first-of-its-kind statewide poll shows 72% of voters believe judges should finish their terms so voters—not politicians—choose their successors. Currently, 6 of 9 justices were initially appointed—not elected. Full Court Press is working to train and support judicial candidates who: • Apply the law based on facts and long-standing legal principles • Remain independent of political ideology • Are committed to transparency and government accountability Learn more: fullcourtpresswa.org

🚨 Website Updated! 🚨 With five of the nine Washington State Supreme Court seats on the ballot this year, Washingtonians have a rare opportunity to help shape the future of our state's highest court. We've updated wasupremecourt.org with the latest information on the Washington State Supreme Court, the candidates running for each seat and resources to learn more about the candidates. Whether you're just beginning to learn about the judicial elections or looking for a reliable resource to share, we encourage you to visit the site and pass it along to your friends, family, and colleagues. An informed public is essential to a strong democracy. Learn more at wasupremecourt.org. This page is an independent nonpartisan educational resource and is not affiliated with any campaign, political party, or government agency. Candidate information is compiled from publicly available sources and may not reflect the most current filings. Always consult sos.wa.gov and vote.wa.gov for official, up-to-date information.

🚨 New Website Launch! 🚨 With five of the nine Washington State Supreme Court seats on the ballot this year, there is a rare opportunity to shape the future of our state's highest court. To help the public learn more, Full Court Press has launched wasupremecourt.org, a new educational resource with information about the Washington State Supreme Court and the candidates running for each seat. We encourage you to explore the site and share it with your friends, family, and colleagues. Judicial elections matter, and informed Washingtonians make for a stronger democracy. Visit: wasupremecourt.org

According to a judicial poll conducted by Napolitan News Service, voter pamphlets still matter most when it comes to judicial elections. According to the survey, 41% say voter pamphlets are their primary source of information about judicial candidates and judges That’s more than: • Social media - 13% • TV/radio ads - 12% • Campaign websites - 12% • Friends & family - 7% Strong public education materials remain essential in judicial campaigns. Stay tuned for more information from Full Court Press as we continue working to help inform the public about the importance of judicial elections.

Electoral watchdog Ballotpedia conducted an extensive analysis of Washington Supreme Court candidates from 2013 to 2022. Progressive parties won 74% of their cases, while conservative parties won 14%. Note the chart that corresponds with this finding. The report also identified party categories with the highest and lowest rates of favorable decisions regardless of ideology. This study also examined data on campaign donors and court case parties, subsequently assessing how the Court ruled to distinguish between progressive and conservative ideological leanings across various sectors and policy areas. Despite the ostensibly nonpartisan nature of Supreme Court elections, the research highlighted a considerable information gap for voters. The analysis revealed that over 99% of contributions to winning state Supreme Court candidates came from sources identified as progressive. Full Court Press is working to train judicial candidates who are not influenced by special interests in the judiciary in Washington state. You can read the full analysis here: #Significant_donations_by_source_category" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ballotpedia.org/Analysis_of_Wa…

⚖️Judicial elections matter. A recent Seattle Times column highlighted the work of Full Court Press and Board Chairman Rob McKenna to increase awareness and engagement in this year’s Washington State Supreme Court races. We encourage you to give it a read: seattletimes.com/opinion/suprem…

In the 2026 election cycle, Washington State will hold 141 judicial elections. 11 of those races involve Superior Court, Court of Appeals, and state Supreme Court judges first appointed through the “resign-and-appoint” practice—where a sitting judge steps down mid-term and the governor names a successor, often just before the filing deadline. That move limits—or completely bypass—an open election. A first-of-its-kind statewide poll shows 72% of voters believe judges should finish their terms so voters—not politicians—choose their successors. Currently, 6 of 9 justices were initially appointed—not elected. Full Court Press is working to train and support judicial candidates who: • Apply the law based on facts and long-standing legal principles • Remain independent of political ideology • Are committed to transparency and government accountability Learn more: fullcourtpresswa.org

Washingtonians closely follow the legislature, governor, and attorney general—but far less attention is paid to the decisions of our state’s highest court, even though those rulings can impact public safety, taxes, constitutional rights, and voter-approved initiatives. To help close that information gap, Full Court Press has released a first-of-its-kind judicial scorecard examining key Washington State Supreme Court decisions from 2020–2026. The scorecard analyzes 12 major rulings across four categories: ✅ Public Safety ✅ Government Accountability ✅ Protection of Constitutional Rights ✅ Tort Liability It also provides an easy-to-understand breakdown of how each justice voted in these important cases. View the scorecard at Full Court Press’ website: fullcourtpresswa.org/wp-content/upl…

According to a judicial poll conducted by Napolitan News Service, voter pamphlets still matter most when it comes to judicial elections. 41% of voters say voter pamphlets are their primary source of information on judicial candidates and judges. That’s more than: • Social media - 13% • TV/radio ads - 12% • Campaign websites - 12% • Friends & family - 7% Strong voter education materials remain essential in judicial campaigns. Stay tuned for more information from Full Court Press as we continue working to help inform voters about the importance of judicial elections.

Electoral watchdog Ballotpedia conducted an extensive analysis of Washington Supreme Court candidates from 2013 to 2022. Progressive parties won 74% of their cases, while conservative parties won 14%. Note the chart that corresponds with this finding. The report also identified party categories with the highest and lowest rates of favorable decisions regardless of ideology. This study also examined data on campaign donors and court case parties, subsequently assessing how the Court ruled to distinguish between progressive and conservative ideological leanings across various sectors and policy areas. Despite the ostensibly nonpartisan nature of Supreme Court elections, the research highlighted a considerable information gap for voters. The analysis revealed that over 99% of contributions to winning state Supreme Court candidates came from sources identified as progressive. Full Court Press is working to train judicial candidates who are not influenced by special interests in the judiciary in Washington state. You can read the full analysis here: #Significant_donations_by_source_category" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ballotpedia.org/Analysis_of_Wa…

⚖️ The field is officially set for a rare Washington State Supreme Court election cycle this fall. For only the second time in modern history, 5 of the 9 Supreme Court positions will appear on the ballot. What makes this year especially unusual: Only one incumbent is running - the Chief Justice Two open seats - highly uncommon at this level Two recently appointed justices running for the first time These dynamics make this one of the most consequential judicial elections in recent state history and could shape the future direction of the court for years to come. Here’s a look at the candidates who have officially filed with the Secretary of State:👇

A great op-ed by Senator John Braun on the need to bring gubernatorial appointees to the Washington State Supreme Court out of the shadows so the public can see and hear who these appointees are. If the resign-and-appoint system is going to circumvent voters in choosing judges, then the State Senate should provide advice and consent on theses appointees. chronline.com/stories/john-b… Join Full Court Press as we are dedicated to training judicial candidates who are committed to applying the law with a facts-based approach that is founded upon long-standing legal principles, independent of political ideology and dedicated to transparency and government accountability. Our state’s future depends on it.

It’s rare to see 5 of 9 State Supreme Court races on the ballot in a single election cycle. Here’s what makes this year especially unusual: • Only one incumbent is running — the Chief Justice • Two open seats — highly uncommon at this level • Two recently appointed justices running for the first time These dynamics create a pivotal moment for the future of the court. Here’s a look at who has officially filed with the Public Disclosure Commission:

In the 2026 election cycle, Washington State will hold 141 judicial elections. 11 of those races involve Superior Court, Court of Appeals, and state Supreme Court judges first appointed through the “resign-and-appoint” practice—where a sitting judge steps down mid-term and the governor names a successor, often just before the filing deadline. That move limits—or completely bypass—an open election. A first-of-its-kind statewide poll shows 72% of voters believe judges should finish their terms so voters—not politicians—choose their successors. Read more: #news-429" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">fullcourtpresswa.org/news/#news-429 Currently, 6 of 9 justices were initially appointed—not elected. Full Court Press is working to train and support judicial candidates who: • Apply the law based on facts and long-standing legal principles • Remain independent of political ideology • Are committed to transparency and government accountability Learn more: fullcourtpresswa.org

Full Court Press is actively seeking lawyers with a commitment to fairness, legal integrity, and a balanced judiciary to serve as judges in Washington State. We identify and train candidates for judicial office in Superior Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Washington Supreme Court. Our candidates are committed to: *Applying the law based on facts and evidence *Upholding long-standing legal principles *Remaining independent of political ideology If you or someone you know fits this description and is interested in a judicial career, please contact Tim Kovis at tim@fullcourtpresswa.org. Full Court Press is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization based in Washington state. Reaching out does not obligate you to run. Whether you're ready now or just exploring the idea, we welcome your interest. Our judicial candidate training program is completely free and designed to support legal professionals who want to make a difference from the bench. Let’s work together to strengthen Washington’s courts with qualified, principled judges. fullcourtpresswa.org

When voters are asked what qualifications matter most in choosing judges, the answer is clear: character comes first. 📷 75% say character is very important. Other top factors include: 📷 Tough-on-crime positions - 56% very important 📷 Education - 55% very important 📷Legal experience - 52% very important 📷 Community involvement - 46% very important By contrast, political party endorsements ranked last. Only 21% say they are very important, while 44% say they are not very or not at all important. #news-429" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">fullcourtpresswa.org/news/#news-429 These results confirm that voters want judges selected based on merit, integrity, and experience - not partisan or ideological labels.

In the 2026 election cycle, Washington State will hold 141 judicial elections. 👉 11 of those races involve Superior Court, Court of Appeals, and state Supreme Court judges first appointed through the “resign-and-appoint” practice—where a sitting judge steps down mid-term and the governor names a successor, often just before the filing deadline. That move limits—or completely bypass—an open election. 📊 A first-of-its-kind statewide poll shows 72% of voters believe judges should finish their terms so voters—not politicians—choose their successors. Read more: #news-429" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">fullcourtpresswa.org/news/#news-429 ⚖️ Last week, Governor Ferguson appointed second Justice to the Washington State Supreme Court. Currently, 5 of 9 justices were initially appointed—not elected. 🔎 Full Court Press is working to train and support judicial candidates who: • Apply the law based on facts and long-standing legal principles • Remain independent of political ideology • Are committed to transparency and government accountability 👉 Learn more: fullcourtpresswa.org

Full Court Press is actively seeking lawyers with a commitment to fairness, legal integrity, and a balanced judiciary to serve as judges in Washington State. We identify and train candidates for judicial office in Superior Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Washington Supreme Court. Our candidates are committed to: *Applying the law based on facts and evidence *Upholding long-standing legal principles *Remaining independent of political ideology If you or someone you know fits this description and is interested in a judicial career, please contact Tim Kovis at tim@fullcourtpresswa.org. Full Court Press is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization based in Washington state. Reaching out does not obligate you to run. Whether you're ready now or just exploring the idea, we welcome your interest. Our judicial candidate training program is completely free and designed to support legal professionals who want to make a difference from the bench. Let’s work together to strengthen Washington’s courts with qualified, principled judges. fullcourtpresswa.org