The Olympian

Endorsements

Incumbents best choices for justices

Friday, September 1, 2006 — Two of the three Supreme Court races on this fall's ballots will be decided in the Sept. 19 primary election. The third, a five-person race, likely will be decided in the Nov. 7 general election.

For the primary, The Olympian's editorial board endorses Justice Tom Chambers over challenger Jeanette Burrage and Chief Justice Gerry Alexander over challenger John Groen.

All judicial races are non-partisan. They are included on the Democrat and Republican ballots that Thurston County residents will receive in the mail this week.

Chambers vs. Burrage

This race is an easy call. Chambers is by far the superior candidate. He has distinguished himself in his first term and merits re-election.

Burrage has been rejected by voters more often than she has been elected. She's become a perennial candidate, having lost multiple races for the state Legislature, Superior Court, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. To her credit she had brief stints as a member of the Des Moines City Council and as a Superior Court judge. But even then her service was marred by controversy.

Burrage blundered badly when she arbitrarily issued an order that pantsuits would no longer be acceptable attire for female attorneys appearing before her. The response was quick and contemptuous. Burrage quickly backed off her silly order but not before earning the enmity of several women's groups.

Burrage believes the constitution should be interpreted strictly and sees herself as a strong advocate for individual rights. Burrage, who is an attorney in private practice, has never argued a case before the state's high court. Her "unqualified" rating by the bi-partisan Constitutional Law PAC is well deserved.

Chambers, by contrast, is thoughtful, well-reasoned and scholarly. His "well qualified" ranking is well earned. He sees himself as a strong advocate for individual and property rights. He has also been an advocate for open government and easy access to public records.

Chambers is absolutely right when he says, "Openness breeds confidence. Secrets breed suspicion."

Voters should return Tom Chambers to the Supreme Court on Sept. 19

Alexander vs. Groen

The race between Chief Justice Gerry Alexander and attorney John Groen is not even a close call. Voters who care about a fair and independent judiciary, those who value judicial experience and sound judicial temperament will vote for Alexander.

There are good reasons for voters to question Groen's character. The Legislature put a $1,400-per-election cap on individual donations to judicial candidates effective the first week of June. Groen took $100,000 in contributions from construction industry interests in the days prior to the campaign limit law going into effect. Alexander is absolutely right when he says, "I think (Groen) should have abided by the spirit of the campaign contribution legislation."

Accepting individual checks of $25,000 raises serious questions about a candidate's independence. The construction industry has invested heavily in Groen's campaign and voters have to ask themselves what the industry will expect in return.

Groen is an attorney in private practice. He has argued numerous cases before the state Supreme Court, but has no judicial experience. Alexander has 33 years judicial experience on courts at three levels.

Groen claims that the Supreme Court is legislating from the bench.

That's an oversimplification. Each of the nine judges thoroughly analyzes each case, Their collective role is to serve as a check and balance to the executive and legislative branches. Under Alexander's term as the longest-serving chief justice in state history, the state Supreme Court has been an effective third branch of government.

Alexander has been an advocate for open government. A rule adopted under his leadership ensures that court records available at the courthouse are available electronically, too. Another rule will see far fewer cases sealed from public inspection.

That's not to say we have agreed with every one of Alexander's decision. We have not. But voters can take comfort in the knowledge that he brings a great deal of thought and analysis - and independence - to every judicial decision. Re-elect Chief Justice Gerry Alexander on Sept. 19.

See also: September 15 Editorial

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