July 7, 2012 — For several judicial races, the Aug. 7 primary is not a primary at all but a decisive event. Different rules apply in these races. Those rules are complicated and vary between local and state levels. But basically, any judicial candidate who receives a majority of votes in this primary (ballots were mailed Wednesday) will be declared the winner of the election. With that in mind, here are The Columbian's endorsements for judicial races:
Superior Court Judge, Dept. 2:
By his conduct in and out of the courtroom, Judge John
Wulle's self-inflicted wounds have rendered him unworthy
of being returned by voters to the bench he has occupied
for 12 years. Challenger
David Gregerson
offers a composed demeanor and enough experience as a
judge pro tempore to earn The Columbian's endorsement.
This newspaper has endorsed Wulle previously, but we
also have reprimanded him for improper behavior at a
2006 conference in Los Angeles. His profane outburst at
that conference, accompanied by an obscene gesture and
multifanged slur, resulted in a censure (the strongest
discipline short of suspension) by the state Commission
on Judicial Conduct.
This year, Wulle is under review by the same commission
for what it describes as "a pattern of discourteous,
impatient and undignified behavior." A public hearing
has been rescheduled until Aug. 27, about three weeks
after the decisive Aug. 7 primary.
All of this has led to a dramatic plunge in Wulle's
ratings by the Clark County Bar Association. This year's
bar poll shows a compilation of several areas, with
Gregerson the favorite among 58 percent of respondents.
Wulle drew only 41 percent support. By contrast, four
years ago Wulle had 91 percent support. Such a stunning
reversal in bar-poll opinion of a sitting judge is
unprecedented in at least the past 12 years.
Wulle's supporters essentially will argue, "Boys will be
boys. Let's overlook these indiscretions. He knows the
law." Sorry. Judges, more so than most other elected
officials, should be stellar examples in and out of the
courtroom. Wulle fails this test.
Gregerson, meanwhile, is campaigning impressively,
building a broad base of support and showing himself to
be highly capable of replacing the ill-tempered Wulle.
The incumbent has said of his courtroom outbursts:
"Sorry, the street kid from New York came out." That's
no excuse, and as Gregerson adroitly explains, "A
judge's role in the courtroom is to mitigate tension,
not inflame it."
Superior Court Judge, Dept. 8:
Incumbent Diane
Woolard has served admirably since 2000. Challenger
Josephine Townsend presents no compelling reason to
replace Woolard, who also is active in her profession
with key roles on several committees. The local bar poll
gave Woolard overwhelming support (87 percent) and The
Columbian endorses her as the clearly superior choice.
Washington Supreme Court: Two
statewide races for Supreme Court positions likely will
be decided in the Aug. 7 primary, and both incumbents
have earned the right to continue on the high court.
Justice Steven Gonzalez
was appointed to the court earlier this year by Gov.
Chris Gregoire and quickly distinguished himself in such
a way as to draw support from multiple sources,
including both of the major gubernatorial candidates,
numerous bar polls and several newspapers.
Similar accolades have been accumulated by another
incumbent, Justice Susan
Owens, who has served on the high court since 2000.
Neither Gonzalez nor Owens is drawing serious
competition from foes who have low-key campaigns. The
Columbian recommends returning Gonzalez and Owens to the
Supreme Court.