Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Washington Supreme Court Elects Chief Justice: Alexander to be Longest-Serving Chief Justice in State History

Members of the Washington Supreme Court unanimously elected Gerry L. Alexander to a second four-year term as the state’s top judge, changing history as Alexander becomes the longest-serving Chief Justice in Washington State history.

After winning the internal election to a second term, Alexander thanked his colleagues and outlined his priorities for the judiciary in the coming years.

“I am honored by the unanimous show of support by my colleagues,” said Alexander.  “The judiciary is in the midst of an historic effort to reverse chronic under-funding of our state’s trial courts, public defense and civil indigent defense systems.  I look forward to working with the executive and legislative branches of government in the coming years to improve our vital branch of government, and ensure the public’s trust and confidence in our court system.”

As Chief Justice, Alexander will continue to be the court’s chief spokesman, preside over the court’s public hearings and serve as the administrative head of the state’s trial and appellate court system. 

He also chairs the 20-member Board for Judicial Administration (BJA), the policy-setting group of the state judiciary.  The BJA established an historic Court Funding Task Force in 2000 to make recommendations to provide adequate and stable funding for Washington’s trial courts.

Alexander is the court’s 52^nd Chief Justice, succeeding retired Justice Richard P. Guy in 2000 for the position.  He will be officially sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during ceremonies in Olympia on Monday, January 10.

Elected to an open seat on the Supreme Court 1994, Alexander joined the Court with more than two decades of trial and appellate court experience.  He  served as a superior court judge for Thurston and Mason Counties from 1973 to 1984, and as a judge for Division Two of the Court of Appeals from 1985 to 1994.   A full biography is available online at www.courts.wa.gov