Evan Smith: The one-candidate judicial primary election

By Evan Smith

ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and the rest of King County will vote in the August 16 primary on a judicial election with only one candidate.

It’s for a position on the Division Court of Appeals.

The State constitution requires that elections for the State Supreme Court and State courts of appeals appear on both the primary and general election ballot.

Most elections for Supreme Court and courts of appeals and for superior and district courts are in even-numbered years, when there is a full primary ballot.

However, this position is out of the normal sequence because, when the Legislature added it, it put the position on a different cycle than other State judicial positions.

Contrast the appeals court election with a vacancy this year on the King County Superior Court. When only one candidate had filed by the end of the filing period June 10, the County issued a certificate of election without either a primary or a general election.

That’s the rule for elections for Superior Court positions in large counties. State law requires elections for superior court positions in counties with fewer than 100,000 people.

State law also requires elections for district court judges, but doesn’t require a primary with only one or two candidates. So, when last year’s primary election for the Shoreline District Court had two candidates for one position and one candidate for the other, both appeared only on the November ballot.

Here is the information on the court-of-appeals election that will be in the voters’ pamphlet that will arrive during the last week in July and is now available on the King County elections web site:

2011 Primary Online Voters' Guide

August 16, 2011 Primary

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, King County

Judge Position 2

(Nonpartisan Office, 6-year term)

Michael Spearman

Legal/Judicial Experience:

Appellate Court Judge (2010 - present); Mediator/Arbitrator (2007-2010); Superior Court Judge (1993-2007); Attorney in Private Practice (1986-88); Defender (1983-86; 1989-93)

Other Professional Experience:

Machinist and Union Steward, member of IAM (1974-78); Board member: King County Bar Association (2008-10); The Defender Association (2008-09); Washington Foundation for the Courts (2008-10)

Education:

B.A. Brown University (1974); J.D. New York University (1981)

Community Service:

Board member: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children; Seadrunar (residential drug treatment program)

Statement:

Judge Spearman currently serves on the Court of Appeals, where he sits on three judge panels that review proceedings from the lower courts to make sure trials are conducted fairly and according to law. He began his judicial career in 1993 as a trial judge on the King County Superior Court bench, where he earned high marks for his calm demeanor, intelligence, and impartiality. Judge Spearman retired from the court in 2007 and worked as a private mediator helping people resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom. In March 2010, Governor Gregoire appointed Judge Spearman to the Court of Appeals.

Judge Spearman would like to thank the citizens of King County for allowing him to serve on the Washington State Court of Appeals for the next six years. He considers it an honor and a privilege to serve as an appellate court judge.

For more information:

(206) 714-5637

spearmanforjudge@gmail.com