JUSTICE OF THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT
Time flies when you're having fun. It seems just yesterday when I won that special election in 1995, and was reelected for a full 6 years in 1998.
These have been good years on the court. It is a great privilege and joy to attempt to protect and maintain the individual legal rights of every single individual who comes to court. That, in my opinion, is the job description of a judge, and, as it says in Article 1, Section 1 of our state constitution, the purpose of state government as well.
Now I am one of the most senior justices on the court. And I think I am stronger for it, with 26 years of private practice, plus 8 years on the bench under the belt. I remember the cases we discuss as precedent to future decisions, I remember the circumstances, the struggle and the point of these prior decisions.
I have come to appreciate as never before the importance of a strong and independent judiciary to bring us individual justice and preserve our freedoms. I have fallen in love with our brilliant founders, just as they loved lady liberty.
In our state we elect our judges. Any lawyer can run, and many do. I will run on my record and ask my many friends to help. Let's keep in touch.
