The Olympian

Endorsements

Sunday, October 3, 2010 — Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders is running for a fourth term and faces the challenge of former appellate court judge Charlie Wiggins.

The Olympian’s editorial board believes Wiggins makes a credible case on why Sanders should be turned out of office. We encourage South Sound voters to support Wiggins in the Nov. 2 general election.

Sanders, 65, from Vashon Island, has served 15 years on the state’s highest court. In those 15 years, Sanders, a libertarian, has certainly fulfilled his role as a contrary voice. A prolific opinion writer, Sanders routinely finds himself in the minority. He says it’s his role to offer a “fresh and different approach” to legal arguments and force the other members of the Supreme Court to think differently about the matters before them.

While we support – even encourage – a diversity of opinion on the court, Sanders seems to relish being a contrarian. Rather than use his considerable intellect to interpret the law, Sanders appears to impose his personal beliefs on the law. It’s not supposed to work that way.

As a newspaper, we would be remiss if we did not commend Sanders for his rock-solid record on public access and public records issues. He routinely sides with those who seek to pry records out of the hands of government bureaucrats. Sanders is clearly a solid proponent of the public’s right to know and for that we salute him.

Where Sanders falls short – way short – is in judicial temperament.

Who else but Justice Sanders would attend a pro-life rally on the Capitol steps just minutes after being sworn in as an impartial judge?

What other judge would tour the McNeil Island Penitentiary talking with inmates – many of whom had appeals pending – when justices of the Supreme Court are expected to be fair and equitable to all sides in legal dispute?

What other sitting Supreme Court justice would stand up at a formal dinner in the nation’s capital and shout “tyrant” at the attorney general of the United States of America?

Sanders has done all of these things. In standing up to power and government, he steps over the line and seems cavalier about the rules of the court and personal conduct expected of a justice.

Sanders is an unflattering ambassador for the court. He’s not becoming to the bench and therefore should be denied another term.

Wiggins, 63, an attorney in private practice on Bainbridge Island, has specialized in criminal and civil appeals for the last 34 years – the very cases that are argued before the nine justices on the Supreme Court.

He was appointed to the state Court of Appeals by former Gov. Mike Lowry, but lost the subsequent election. He has served as a pro-tem judge and has experience in rule making and lawyer discipline – two integral duties of Supreme Court justices. He enjoys the highest ratings from key bar associations and the King County Municipal League. Wiggins also enjoys support from county prosecutors, sheriffs and police chiefs, primarily because Sanders has a record of siding against their interests.

As a Supreme Court judge, Wiggins said in addition to focusing on the cases brought before him, he would focus on removing the barriers to access to justice.

Wiggins has based his campaign on integrity, impartiality and independence – hitting Justice Sanders in all three areas.

Voters deserve a Supreme Court justice they can be proud of. In this race, that’s Charlie Wiggins. He merits voter support on Nov. 2.

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

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