Archived Version: August 21, 2007

An information resource for Washington voters

Welcome to www.votingforjudges.org, a nonpartisan source of information on judicial elections in the state of Washington.

This site was established in 2006 to provide information to voters in connection with the judicial candidates running for election that year. That information is still preserved here in our archives.

The American Bar Association has honored VotingforJudges with its 2007 Silver Gavel Award for Media and the Arts, in the "New Media" category. In addition, the Atlanta-based Foundation for Improvement of Justice is presenting one of its Paul H. Chapman Justice Awards for 2007 to VotingforJudges.

On August 18, 2007, The Seattle Times once again praised the site.

2007

August update: There will be a Lewis County Superior Court election in November.

There will only be three judicial elections in 2007. In general, judicial elections are held in odd-numbered years only when it is necessary to fill a vacancy, or when a temporary executive appointment has been made during the year.

• Clallam County is electing a Superior Court judge to a newly-created third position this fall. Four candidates have filed for the position. If one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes cast in the August 21 primary, he will be the new judge. Otherwise, the top two candidates will be on the general election ballot in November.
• Lewis County is electing a Superior Court judge to replace Judge H. John Hall, who retired at the end of July. Two candidates have filed for the office; this election will be on the November ballot.
• In Division III, District 1, of the Court of Appeals, Judge Debra Stephens was appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy, and she took office in May 2007. Although she must stand for election this fall, no other candidate filed for the position, so she will appear on the November ballot unopposed. Voters in Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane and Stevens counties are included in this district.

Beginning this year, the primary election has been moved from the third Tuesday in September to the third Tuesday in August, so this year's primary election date will be August 21; ballots were mailed August 1. The general election will be held on November 6; ballots will be mailed October 17.

2008

In 2008, votingforjudges.org will cover elections for three Supreme Court positions, seven Court of Appeals positions, and every Superior Court judge in Washington.

VotingforJudges.org, P.O. Box 1460, Silverdale, WA  98383
Write to [email protected].

Votingforjudges.org includes ratings and endorsements from numerous organizations. We provide this information so that voters will be better informed about the candidates. We do not rate or endorse any candidates; the ratings and endorsements of organizations included at this site reflect the views of those individual organizations and not necessarily the views of votingforjudges.org or its sponsors.