Sheryl Gordon McCloud

Washington Supreme Court

Position 9

Legal/Judicial Experience: Extensive trial and appellate experience; hundreds of arguments to the Washington State Supreme Court and other appeals courts. Teaches Supreme Court advocacy to law students and practicing lawyers.

Other Professional Experience: Service on Supreme Court committees and statewide and national organizations promoting meaningful access to the judicial system. Obtained significant court rulings establishing our right to courtrooms open to the public and press, pregnancy disability leave, and fair mortgage practices.

Education: J.D., University of Southern California Law Center, Editor, Southern California Law Review; B.A., State University of New York, cum laude

Community Service: Gynecological Cancer Foundation and youth art and sports activities while raising two sons

Statement: Supreme Court Justices must be people who appreciate the effect of their decisions on ordinary people. As a former union member who is married to an educator and is the mother of two, Sheryl McCloud understands the concerns of women and working families and will bring that connection to the Supreme Court bench.

For 28 years, Sheryl has been defending our Constitutional rights in the Washington Supreme Court and other appellate courts and is the best qualified candidate for this position. Lawyers nationwide seek her expertise and advice.

Sheryl McCloud has a proven record of commitment to communities of color and a long history of providing free legal assistance to those who lack the ability to pay - those who would be without meaningful access to justice without her help. In one of her first volunteer cases, she helped successfully defend a woman’s right to pregnancy disability leave in the U.S. Supreme Court. She’s not a career politician, but an experienced appellate lawyer who will bring to the court an unparalleled depth of experience.

Endorsements: King County Democratic Central Committee; James Bible; Rev. Dr. Carey Anderson (of First AME Church); Larry Gossett; Estela Ortega; NARAL Pro-Choice Washington; others at www.mccloudforjustice.com

Candidate ratings:

ORGANIZATION	SHERYL GORDON McCLOUD	RICHARD SANDERS
Cardozo Society	Exceptionally Well Qualified	*
Joint Asian Judicial Evaluation Committee	Well Qualified	*
Justice for Washington Foundation	Qualified	Qualified
King County Bar Association	Exceptionally Well Qualified	Well Qualified
Q-Law: The GLBT Bar Association of Washington	Well Qualified	*
Seattle Metropolitan Elections Committee	*	Hostile
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association	Exceptionally Well Qualified	*
Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys	Not Qualified	Not Qualified
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers	Well Qualified	Declined Participation
Washington Women Lawyers	Qualified	*

Important note! Each of these organizations uses its own standards and rating terms when evaluating candidates; please check their pages for further information. We do not have ratings from all organizations for all candidates, and the reasons vary. Some evaluations may still be in process, or we might not have received them yet; some candidates may not have been offered an opportunity to participate, or they may have declined to participate. Again, please check the organizations' pages for further details.

General Election: November 6, 2012

Washington Supreme Court

Position 9