This week on Inland Journal, hear from the candidates running for seats on Washington's Supreme Court. Five of the nine Supreme Court seats are in play this fall. The ideological balance of the court could conceivably change.
Today we hear from the 10 candidates running for five Washington Supreme Court seats. They include three incumbents, including two who are appointed to the bench this year.
We’ll hear short presentations from each of the candidates from TVW’s Video Voter Guide series, presented here with permission. The candidates have up to three minutes to tell you about themselves and what they believe.
We start with the race for Position 1. The incumbent is Colleen Melody. She was appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson and joined the court at the beginning of 2026.
Colleen Melody: My name is Colleen Melody and I am one of the justices serving you on the Washington State Supreme Court. I am running to retain my seat so that I may continue working to uphold the rule of law, improve access to justice, and protect the rights of everyone in Washington.
I grew up in Spokane. My father was a teacher and my mom was a nurse and patient advocate. They taught me to work hard, to give back, and to help others. And now I live in rural western Washington with my husband, who is a carpenter, and my two daughters, who are in elementary school.
I became a lawyer after an excellent public education, including undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Washington. And then I became a civil rights lawyer, where I spent my entire career working in the public interest.
I have never worked for a client who paid me. I have never sent a bill to a person whose civil rights I worked to protect. I've only ever worked as a government lawyer with the goal of protecting the civil and constitutional rights of my neighbors. For many years, I was the head of the Civil Rights Division in the Attorney General's Office here in Washington State. There, I stood up for everyday people across our state, protecting the rights of Washingtonians when they were violated by multinational corporations, special interests, and the federal government. I returned millions in wages to workers and protected employees from pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment. I held the government, the federal government, accountable to the rule of law, fighting the Trump administration's unconstitutional Muslim ban and family separation policy, and blocking the administration from canceling the DACA program that protects thousands of dreamers in Washington for whom our state is home. Now more than ever, state courts must safeguard our rights with independence and impartiality.
Washington's laws provide broad protections in areas like privacy, in the workplace, housing, health care, and education.
State courts must be places where victims of crime and discrimination may seek justice with safety and dignity. I'm proud to be endorsed by every sitting Supreme Court Justice, retired Justices Mary Yu and Barbara Madsen, Governors Bob Ferguson, Jay Inslee, and Chris Gregoire, Attorney General Nick Brown, hundreds of judges and elected leaders statewide, labor unions, and many more. Your rights matter. I have worked my entire career to protect them. I would be honored to have your vote. Support.
Colleen Melody is challenged by Scott Edwards.
Scott Edwards: Hello, my name is Scott Edwards and I'm running for the Washington State Supreme Court because I believe that our highest court must be a place where the law is applied fairly and thoughtfully, as written and in accordance with the Constitution, without political posturing. The court must serve as a fair and balanced check to government while protecting our constitutional rights and providing equal justice.
From my first job at age 14, working at my grandparents' restaurant, to chairing a legal practice at a major Pacific Northwest law firm, I know the value of hard work.
I've been practicing law in this state for more than 30 years, representing individuals and businesses, large and small, helping them to understand and pay the taxes they owe, while also helping to make sure that the government applies the law, as written, fairly, consistently, and in accordance with the Constitution.
Throughout my legal career, I've had the privilege of seeing the justice system from multiple perspectives, providing advice, helping to form businesses, and in the courtroom, including more than a dozen Washington Supreme Court cases. I have worked on complex legal matters, studied the law carefully, and built a reputation for preparation, professionalism, and integrity.
In addition to my legal practice, I've also been teaching at the University of Washington School of Law for more than 20 years, where I helped to educate the next generation of lawyers.
In the courtroom and in the classroom, I have always approached the law with rigorous reason, common sense, and integrity. I will bring that same approach to the Supreme Court. I've spent years solving difficult problems, weighing competing arguments, and understanding that good decisions require patience, discipline, and respect for the facts. That experience matters.
The role of a Supreme Court judge is to interpret the law faithfully, protect constitutional principles, and treat every person who comes before the court with fairness and respect. My commitment is to protect your constitutional rights, ensure equal justice, and maintain a court that is accountable to voters, one that is worthy of the public trust. You can learn more about me at votescottedwards.com. Thank you.
Scott Edwards and Colleen Melody are running for Washington Supreme Court Position 1.
Position 3 has no returning incumbent. King County Superior Court Judge Jaime Hawk is one of the candidates.
Jaime Hawk: I am Judge Jaime Hawk and I'm running for the Washington Supreme Court.
Our courts and the rule of law are under attack. As a Supreme Court justice, I will protect our rights, our freedoms, and the rule of law, as I have throughout my career.
You deserve a justice with the experience this moment demands. I've served as a public defender, civil rights attorney, law professor, and trial judge, with courtroom experience on both sides of the Cascades. I began my career representing youth in central Washington, then defended individuals against the full power of the federal government as a federal defender in eastern Washington. Later, with the ACLU of Washington, I worked across the state to protect civil liberties, expand voting rights, and improve access to justice.
I know what it looks like when the law fails people and communities, and what it takes to fix it. For more than 20 years, I fought to ensure people are represented, heard, and respected in our legal system. As a King County Superior Court judge, I work every day to ensure people are treated with fairness, dignity, and equal treatment under the law, regardless of their financial means.
That belief is personal to me. I was raised by a single mom, attended public schools, and was the first person in my immediate family to attend college. My mom worked hard and lived paycheck to paycheck. I started working when I turned 14. Those experiences shaped my understanding of the challenges working families face and why equal justice matters.
From a young age, I knew I wanted to become a lawyer for people who could not afford one, to stand up for those whose voices too often go unheard. To achieve that dream, I earned a full tuition scholarship for law school at Gonzaga University, where I graduated with honors.
My career has been dedicated to public service and protecting constitutional rights. I was the first attorney from the ACLU of Washington appointed to the bench when Governor Inslee appointed me to the court.
As a judge, I've presided over hundreds of criminal, civil, and family law cases with fairness and independence. I also work to improve our courts through the Washington Supreme Co