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. But next year I will stand for reelection once again.

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.

During these years I have become the most prolific writer on the bench (see my web site at justicesanders.com), I have published law review articles, I have spoken to all nature of groups, I have testified before legislative committees, I have taught appellate advocacy at the UW law school, I have entertained foreign delegations at the court, and have traveled to unusual places.

During these years my beloved daughter Laura has grown from a wonderful 8-year-old to a beautiful 16-year-old-with a driver's license and daddy credit card for gas. When she was 5 I told her to stop growing and stay the way she is. She responded: "You'll have to send me to Never Never Land for that daddy." Having just celebrated my 58th, I hope to be sent there myself.

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 (see justicesanders.com) and ask my many friends to help. Let's keep in touch.