Abell: Governor should follow reform proposal in Supreme Court appointment
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Abell: Governor should follow reform proposal in Supreme Court appointment
‘For decades, appointments have dominated how our highest courts are filled. That’s not the people’s court—that’s the governor’s court,’ says Abell
Rep. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, says the governor’s upcoming appointment of a new state Supreme Court justice underscores the urgent need to change how judicial vacancies are filled in Washington.
“This is exactly why I introduced legislation to reform the appointment process,” said Abell. “When justices step down before the end of their term, the governor alone decides who replaces them. That individual then runs as an incumbent with all the built-in advantages of the office. It’s a system that sidelines voters and erodes trust in our courts.”
Abell’s legislation, introduced earlier this year, would require a two-thirds vote of the state Senate to confirm gubernatorial appointments to vacancies on the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. This would help ensure bipartisan cooperation and agreement instead of the status quo where one person decides who interprets the laws and cases that go to the highest courts in the state. He says the reform would foster collaboration, bipartisanship, and transparency while giving the public more confidence in the fairness of the process. Critical, he says, at a time when citizens are losing faith in their institutions.
“For decades, appointments have dominated how our highest courts are filled,” Abell explained. “More than half of the current Supreme Court justices and nearly 80% of Court of Appeals judges first took the bench by appointment. In races where voters have little information and low turnout, the appointed incumbent almost always wins. That’s not the people’s court—that’s the governor’s court.”
His proposal would require a constitutional amendment that would put the question before the voters statewide. Abell says citizen input is a critical step to restoring balance and ensuring judicial independence.
“The people of Washington want an independent judicial system and recognize that it is vital to the health and strength of our system of government,” Abell said. “The legislative session may be over, but Gov. Ferguson has a unique opportunity to lead by example. He should consider this proposal and abide by it voluntarily when appointing the next justice. Doing so will increase the public’s trust and confidence in our court system and demonstrate that Washington can lead the way in bringing about much-needed judicial appointment reform.”
