Bringing balance to the bench is why Full Court Press exists.
I have certainly believed that for years. Now, we have statistical proof that we aren’t alone in our desire.
Napolitan News Service Survey revealed the results of a new statewide judicial poll. The poll shows that just 41% of voters approve of the Washington State Supreme Court’s performance, while 42% disapprove, and 17% remain unsure.
Only 8% strongly approve, compared to 17% who strongly disapprove, indicating a soft and uncertain level of public confidence.
The poll shows that just 41% of voters approve of the Washington State Supreme Court’s performance, while 42% disapprove, and 17% remain unsure. Only 8% strongly approve, compared to 17% who strongly disapprove.
To me, this indicates a soft and uncertain level of public confidence.
These numbers show voters are paying attention and are not fully satisfied with the direction of the Court. There is a clear appetite for judges who apply the law with a facts-based approach that is founded upon long-standing legal principles and independent of political ideology.
Voters Want More Information — and Better Judges
When asked what qualifications matter most, voters overwhelmingly prioritized character, with 75% saying it is “very important.”
Other top factors included:
• Tough-on-crime positions: 56% very important
• Education: 55% very important
• Legal experience 52% very important
• Community involvement: 46% very important
By contrast, political party endorsements ranked last, with only 21% saying they are very important, and nearly half (44%) saying they are not very or not at all important.
These results confirm that voters want judges selected on merit, integrity, and experience. They don’t care about partisan labels.
Strong Support for Letting Voters Choose Judges
The poll also found overwhelming opposition to judges resigning early so governors can appoint replacements. Seventy-two percent (72%) of voters say judges should serve their full terms so voters, not politicians, choose their successors. Only 14% support allowing judges to resign early for appointment-based replacements.
This is one of the clearest findings in the poll. Voters believe judicial power ultimately belongs to the people, and they want a direct say in who serves on the bench.
Conclusion
Overall, the poll shows that voters value fairness, accountability, and transparency in the judicial system. While many voters remain uncertain about the Supreme Court’s performance, there is broad agreement on what qualities matter in judges and how they should be selected. These results should serve as a wake-up call. Washington voters care deeply about their courts — and they expect judges to earn and maintain public trust.
Full Court Press is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization with the mission to bring balance to our state’s judicial system. Full Court Press recruits and trains candidates for judicial offices from trial courts to the Supreme Court in Washington state. Full Court Press’ judges are committed to applying the law with a facts-based approach that is founded upon longstanding legal principles and independent of political ideology.
Link to poll: https://napolitannews.org/posts/voters-in-washington-judge-their-judges
Mike Padden is a lawyer and politician from Spokane County. Padden entered the Washington House of Representatives in January 1981 and served there until 1995, when he was appointed to serve as a district court judge in the Spokane County District Court. In 2006, Padden announced he would not run for re-election as judge. Padden entered the race for the Washington state Senate in 2011, representing the 4th Legislative District, and was elected with 55% of the vote. He served in the Senate till 2025. Padden earned his bachelor’s degree at Gonzaga University and earned his law degree from Gonzaga Law School in 1974. Padden resides in Spokane Valley. He and his wife, Laura, have five grown sons and three grandchildren.
Congressman Michael Baumgartner was raised among the Palouse wheat fields in Colton and Pullman, Washington, Michael is a proud graduate of Washington State University, where he earned a degree in economics. He later earned a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) with a focus on International Development from Harvard University. Before coming to Congress, Michael served as a Washington State Senator, diplomat, and as the Treasurer of Spokane County. From 2007 to 2008, Michael served as a U.S. State Department officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, and later worked as a counternarcotics advisor on a U.S. government-funded program in Afghanistan, where he met his wife, Eleanor. Living in Spokane with Eleanor and their five children, Michael and his family are actively involved in his community through youth sports, scouts, and Sunday School.
