Susan Owens

Washington Supreme Court

Position 2

Legal/Judicial Experience: Susan Owens joined the Washington State Supreme court in 2000 after serving nineteen years as District Court Judge in Western Clallam County. She also served as the Quileute Tribe's Chief Judge for five years and Chief Judge of the Lower Elwha S'Klallam Tribe for six years.

Other Professional Experience: Justice Owens serves on the Rules Committee, the Bench-Bar-Press Committee, and the Board for Judicial Administration.

Education: Duke University (1971); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (J.D. 1975.)

Community Service: Justice Owens has offered decades of community service to our citizens and the issues she is passionate about. Please see www.JusticeSusanOwens.com for complete biography.

Statement: “I bring proven experience and an important perspective to the Supreme Court. I’m a longtime rural judge, mother and independent voice for common sense rulings that respect our rights, our privacy—and our Constitution.”

A judge for 31 years, Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens has served with integrity, independence and a strong commitment to your Constitutional rights. Prior to being elected to the Supreme Court in 2000, Justice Owens served on the Clallam County District Court for nearly two decades. Known for balanced, common sense rulings, she earned a national reputation teaching judges how to enforce tougher domestic violence laws.

One of the most productive Justices, authoring numerous important opinions on complex cases, Justice Owens has served with honor and the respect of her peers. Her plain interpretations of the law are rooted in common sense, free of bias, and seek to respect your rights and privacy.

Justice Owens has never held partisan office. A seasoned judge when she joined the court, she has earned the respect and endorsements of judges statewide, advocates for women, crime victims, working families and law enforcement. Justice Owens has earned high ratings and deserves your vote. Re-elect Justice Susan Owens.

Candidate ratings:

ORGANIZATION	DOUGLAS McQUAID	SUSAN OWENS	SCOTT STAFNE
Joint Asian Judicial Evaluation Committee	*	*	Not Qualified
Justice for Washington Foundation	Unqualified	Qualified	Unqualified
King County Bar Association	Refused to Cooperate	Well Qualified	Not Qualified
Q-Law: The GLBT Bar Association of Washington	*	Exceptionally Well Qualified	*
Seattle Metropolitan Elections Committee	*	Highly Recommended	Highly Recommended
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association	*	*	Not Qualified
Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys	*	*	Not 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.

Archived Version: August 7, 2012

Washington Supreme Court

Position 2