Washington Courts: News and Information

Judicial Election Information

Judicial Elections

Washington State Primary Election Information

In Washington State, judges are elected in nonpartisan elections. When a justice of the Washington Supreme Court, a judge of the state Court of Appeals or a superior court resigns or dies during a term of office, the Governor appoints a new judge to fill that position.  The appointed judge must run in the next election, which may be contested.  When a judicial vacancy occurs mid-term in a district court, county commissioners appoint a replacement, and the new judge must run in the next election.

All judges who complete their terms and wish to serve another, must stand for a nonpartisan election. 

The primary election is important in judicial elections, as the “top two” rule does not apply to a judicial candidate who is unopposed or who receives more than half of the votes in the primary.  If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary, only that individual will appear on the ballot in the November general election.  However, if there are three or more candidates, and no one receives more than half the votes cast, the two candidates with the most votes must face each other in November.

Attached below are links to a number of voter resources with information on contested judicial races in the 2012 Primary Election to be held on August 7, 2012

Washington Secretary of State’s Office:  Online Voter’s Guide

Click above to access the Washington Secretary of State’s Office’s 2012 Online Primary Voters Guide, including candidate statements for those running for the Washington Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and superior courts statewide. 

TVW Video Voters Guide

Click above to watch video statements for candidates running for Washington Supreme Court positions 2, 8 and 9.  Produced by Washington’s Public Affairs Station, TVW in cooperation with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Votingforjudges.org

Click above to access VotingforJudges, a nonpartisan, award-winning site for information about judicial elections in the state of Washington. The site was established in 2006 to provide information to voters in connection with the appellate judicial contests that year, and it has expanded to cover all judicial elections throughout the state. All of Washington's 2012 elections are included.

Washington Public Disclosure Commission

Click above to access Washington’s Public Disclosure website, which includes campaign finance information for candidates of all elected positions in Washington State.

County Election Offices 

Several local county election offices in Washington also provide voter pamphlets for the primary election.  To see if your county election department has further information, please visit the link above.