Overview
- Candidates gave published Q&A interviews on June 26 that sharpen differences over experience, ethics and how justices should handle recusal requests.
- Two recent appointees, Theo Angelis (April) and Colleen Melody (January), are running to retain short unexpired terms after Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed them to fill retirements.
- Critics note past ties and campaign donations linking Angelis, Ferguson and Sen. Jamie Pedersen could create an appearance-of-fairness issue if the new income-tax lawsuit reaches the Supreme Court.
- Challenger Dave Larson stresses decades of trial and bench experience and calls for stricter, sometimes mandatory, recusal rules while Angelis and Melody say they will evaluate recusal requests case by case.
- The court’s active rulemaking on bail and warrants plus newly adopted phased-in public-defense caseload standards create practical effects for public safety and local budgets and set clear items to watch after the August top-two primary.