Does Washington’s Governor Have Too Much Influence Over the Supreme Court?

A Washington Supreme Court race is putting new attention on how vacancies are filled on the state’s highest court. Supreme Court candidate Scott Edwards is criticizing what he calls Washington’s “resign and appoint” model, where a justice retires before completing an elected term and the governor appoints a replacement. Edwards argues the practice can give governors significant influence over the makeup of the judicial branch while providing appointed justices with the advantages of incumbency when they later face voters. Edwards is challenging Justice Colleen Melody, who was appointed to the Washington Supreme Court by Gov. Bob Ferguson after Justice Mary Yu announced her retirement. Before joining the court, Melody spent more than a decade in the Washington Attorney General’s Office, including during Ferguson’s tenure as attorney general. Melody rejects concerns that her appointment compromises her judicial independence. She says the judicial conduct code governs when justices must recuse themselves and argues that being appointed by a governor does not mean a justice will rule in favor of that governor or administration. The debate comes as five Washington Supreme Court seats appear on the November ballot, putting unusual attention on the makeup and future direction of the state’s highest court. #WashingtonSupremeCourt #WASupremeCourt #BobFerguson #ScottEdwards #ColleenMelody #WashingtonPolitics #WAPolitics #JudicialIndependence #Election2026 #WashingtonElection #WashingtonNews #TheCenterSquare