State Judicial Races

------------------ ISSUES AND ANSWERS ------------------

We asked the candidates these three questions:

Question 1. Why are you running for office?

Question 2. What public policy issues would be most important to you in the office you seek?

Question 3. What would you like to accomplish if elected?

# indicates incumbent

------------- SUPREME COURT -------------

POSITION 3

Rosselle Pekelis #

Age: 57.

Occupation: Supreme Court justice.

Family: Married, four children.

Education: B.A.; J.D.

King County Bar Association rating: Exceptionally well qualified.

1. In my 15 years of service as a trial and appellate judge, I believe I have contributed significantly to bringing fair, impartial and carefully considered decisions to the people of our state. The broad and varied support I enjoy from citizens around the state tells one that I have been a fair and impartial decision maker - a role I feel committed to and in which I want to continue to serve the people of Washington.

2. As a decision-making body, the most important policy issue facing the Supreme Court is to engender confidence and trust in the judiciary by rendering fair decisions. In its rule-making function, the Supreme Court faces two other important issues: allowing the poor and those of moderate means access to the courts, and monitoring lawyers to make certain they meet the highest ethical standards.

3. I hope to contribute to a court that works hard, engages in full and informal discussion on all cases and matters before it, and that produces timely opinions that are not only fair and just but that are expressed in clear and understandable terms.

Richard Sanders.

Age: 50.

Occupation: Lawyer.

Family: Married, three children.

Education: Undergraduate and law degrees, UW.

King County Bar Association rating: Not qualified.

1. In my 26 years of defending the legal rights of private citizens and an extensive appellate practice, I have been writing the briefs that justices rely on to render their decisions. Today, I want to do more than advocate the rights of the individual. As a judge, my role will be to protect those rights. Equally important, I am committed to an independent judiciary chosen by an informed electorate, not by government appointment as is the case with 70 percent of our state's judges today. I believe the judicial bureaucracy inevitably works against justice. Finally, I am motivated not by career considerations (since my private practice is very successful) but by a lifelong love of liberty and my desire to preserve it for everyone, not just the powerful and the politically correct.

2. As a candidate for judicial office, I am committed to follow the law, not to impose my personal views about public policy on others. My extensive appellate practice gives me strong motivation to do all I can to produce a more efficient Supreme Court. Despite complaints of delays, some say the court's work load is too light with nine justices and they want to reduce the number to seven. I suggest that before we do this, we first tackle inefficiency and delay the old-fashioned way: work harder.

3. My priorities as a Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court: Protect the rights of the people under the U.S. Constitution, the Washington State Constitution and the law; ensure that the judicial system is not stacked in favor of the power of government as a result of a judicial system that promotes government appointments and incumbency; reach out actively to improve public understanding of the role of the Supreme Court and its impact.

---------------- COURT OF APPEALS ----------------

DIVISION 1, DISTRICT 1

Anne Ellington

Age: 48.

Occupation: Judge, Court of Appeals.

Family: No response.

Education: B.A., J.D.

King County Bar Association rating: Exceptionally well qualified.