Washington Court Rule Raises Major Taxpayer Concerns

Should the Washington Supreme Court be making public policy—or simply interpreting the law? Mason County Superior Court Judge David Stevens, a candidate for the Washington Supreme Court, argues that the court's new public defender caseload standards go beyond judicial interpretation and venture into policymaking. Stevens says the rule could force counties across Washington to dramatically increase the number of public defenders they hire, placing significant pressure on already strained local budgets while worsening attorney shortages. In this exclusive interview, Stevens discusses why he believes the issue should have been decided by the Legislature, how the new standards could affect taxpayers, and what it means for public safety and Washington's criminal justice system. If elected, Stevens says the role of a justice is to interpret the Constitution—not create public policy from the bench. #WashingtonSupremeCourt #WashingtonPolitics #WashingtonNews #JudicialElection #PublicSafety #Taxpayers #TheCenterSquare #WashingtonInFocus #CriminalJustice #WashingtonState