Much like the US Supreme Court at the federal level, the Washington Supreme Court is our state’s highest judicial body, overseeing the application and constitutionality of the law.
With all of the legal challenges the federal government under Trump has hurled toward Washington these past two years, it is more important than ever to ensure that our statewide justices stand up against these attempts to weaken democracy and civil liberties.
Pos. 1: Colleen Melody
Justice Melody is seeking reelection this cycle (as are two others on the court). She started her legal career interning at the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago, where she helped LGBTQIA+ immigrants flee from countries where their identities are against the law.
She then went on to work in the Washington Attorney General’s Office as chief of its civil rights division, where she was able to win a case against the Northwest Detention Center that challenged the facility’s abusive $1/a day labor practices.
All of these credentials are things that the other candidate lacks in his portfolio. With the surge of ICE activity and discrimination against Queer people in legal proceedings today, Melody is the clear choice for those looking for a champion of their civil rights. Vote Melody.
Pos. 3: Jaime Michelle Hawk
The first ACLU of WA attorney to become a judge, Jaime Michelle Hawk has had a strong track record of defending people’s civil liberties — whether assisting families separated by ICE in Texas during the first Trump administration or serving on the Washington Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice Commission.
In particular, Hawk has been quite the “hawk” (pardon the pun) when it comes to expanding voting rights in Washington — even earning herself the title of “Democracy Champion” from FairVote WA, which advocates for statewide ranked-choice voting.
She also has garnered an extensive list of notable progressive endorsements, from former WA Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu to Representative Pramila Jayapal. Vote Hawk.
Pos. 4: Ian Birk
“Standing up for the little guy” seems to be the mantra of Birk’s legal career. He has spent 20+ years in private practice representing individuals, families, communities, and small businesses against corporate interests. He also provided free legal assistance for 10 of those years to those facing imminent financial and housing insecurity, through the King County Bar Association’s Neighborhood Legal Clinics.
A person who is wholly committed to improving the general welfare of working-class people is as appropriate a candidate for Washington’s highest judicial office as anyone. Vote Birk.
Pos. 5: Theo Angelis
An admirer of progressive US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Justice Angelis, a first-generation American of Greek and Turkish immigrant parents, has spent a significant portion of his legal career representing immigrant and refugee communities.
Former president of the Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington and recipient of the ACLU’s Humanitarian Award, Justice Angelis has worked alongside organizations such as Kids in Need of Defense and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
With the ICE raids at an all-time high and the safety of immigrant communities at risk, we believe Angelis is one of the best choices for this current Supreme Court. Vote Angelis.
Pos. 7: Debra L. Stephens
The incumbent chief justice of the court, Justice Stephens is running for another term after winning her seat three previous times. A strong advocate for equal access to judicial and civics education both at home and abroad, Stephens stands out from her challenger as the candidate that would most stalwartly defend the integrity and fairness of our judicial system. Vote Stephens.
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