Washington voters will choose a new justice for Supreme Court Position 4 this November, the first time the race appears on the ballot without a primary. The two candidates are King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell and Court of Appeals Judge Ian Birk.
Accusations of a partisan agenda
In late August, Judge Birk sent a fundraising email alleging that O’Donnell follows a “partisan agenda” and is “out of touch with the values and priorities of our state.” The email claimed O’Donnell had accepted a recommendation from the State GOP and was beholden to Republican interests, demanding that he either own the endorsement or ask to be removed from the party’s materials.
O’Donnell responded that he never sought a GOP recommendation. Earlier this year he wrote to Birk asking both candidates to keep the campaign focused on records and visions for the court. Birk never replied. O’Donnell says the charge of a partisan agenda is false and that disavowing an unsolicited recommendation would itself be a partisan act, which judges are prohibited from taking.
62 judges rally behind O’Donnell
More than five dozen judges from across Washington signed a letter defending O’Donnell and labeling Birk’s accusations “serious and false.” The signatories, many of whom have worked with O’Donnell for years, say they have never seen him inject partisan politics into a decision or judicial work.
The letter lists the issues O’Donnell emphasizes on the campaign trail: the high cost of civil and family legal services, dignity for crime victims, the need for interpreters and secure courthouses, and improvements to the Supreme Court’s rule‑making process. None of these constitute a partisan platform; they are practical concerns for a fair judiciary.
Broad support from both parties
O’Donnell’s endorsement slate is unusually wide for a nonpartisan race. Over 200 judges have backed him, along with four former U.S. Attorneys, two Democratic members of Congress (Marilyn Strickland and Adam Smith), former Governor Chris Gregoire, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, State Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, several labor unions, and multiple Democratic Party organizations. The Washington State Democratic Party has officially recommended him, and the State Republican Party also issued an unsolicited recommendation.
Judge Birk enjoys the support of seven of the nine sitting Supreme Court justices and a coalition of union and Democratic district groups. He has raised more money, with reported contributions exceeding $400,000, while O’Donnell’s campaign totals around $340,000. Although the race has become a financial outlier, the judges’ endorsement underscores that money does not determine the truth of the accusations.
Judicial impartiality at stake
Chelan County Superior Court Judge Kristin Ferrera warned that partisan politics have no place in Washington’s judicial elections. She praised the state’s nonpartisan judicial system and noted that only one candidate—Birk—has turned the race into a party‑loyalty test.
Ferrera argued that a court that begins sorting people by tribe ceases to be a court. Rural Washingtoners, she said, need judges who apply the law without asking which side a voter supports.
What voters should consider
Both candidates bring substantial experience. Birk has a record as an appellate judge, while O’Donnell offers 25 years as a prosecutor and superior court judge, plus stints as a temporary Supreme Court justice.
O’Donnell says he will continue to focus on concrete courtroom issues—affordable civil legal help, the impact of artificial intelligence on judicial decision‑making, protecting civil rights, and public safety—rather than partisan attacks that only erode trust in the judiciary.
Reasonable voters can weigh résumés and policy ideas without being swayed by “toxic political blows.” As the 62 judges who signed the defense letter contend, the choice should be about experience and impartiality, not party allegiance. Voters will have the final say in November, and a vote for O’Donnell would keep the courtroom a place of law, not politics.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
