Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

JUDICIAL VOTER PAMPHLET IN DAILY NEWSPAPERS AUGUST 27

Next Tuesday, Washingtonians will find a voter pamphlet insert in their daily newspaper devoted solely to contested judicial elections. 

Published by the Administrative Office of the Courts, the 2002 Judicial Voter Pamphlet is a paid supplement aimed at solving a problem many voters say they have when choosing between judicial candidates:  too little information.

A Supreme Court Order authorizing publication of the pamphlet notes that information about judicial candidates is especially critical before the September primary, when many judges are elected to the bench.  The voter pamphlet distributed by the Secretary of State’s Office issued before the general election does not include all judicial positions, and does not require disclosure of a candidate’s professional qualifications.

The Judicial Voter Pamphlet was first published for the 1996 primary election, after an independent, state-level commission reviewed all aspects of our judicial selection system. 

The 2002 edition will include information on contested judicial elections for the Supreme Court, court of appeals, district courts and superior court positions with mid-term vacancies. 

It is estimated that the hard-copy Judicial Voter Pamphlet will reach approximately 1.2 million citizens statewide through daily newspapers and several weekly newspapers.  An electronic version of the pamphlet will also be available via the Washington Courts website at www.courts.wa.gov.

TVW, Washington’s Public Affairs Network will also produce a Video Voters Guide featuring Supreme Court Candidates, which will be aired on cable channels prior to the primary and general elections.  Further details regarding this guide will be provided on TVW’s website at www.tvw.org.

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