With five seats on the ballot, Supreme Court candidates begin making their case

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Candidates for Washington's highest court used a June 3 forum hosted by North Central Washington Democrats to introduce themselves to local voters, highlighting backgrounds in civil rights, appellate law, trial courts and public service as five of the Washington Supreme Court's nine seats appear on the 2026 ballot.

The forum featured candidates in four separate Supreme Court contests. Court of Appeals Judge Mike Diaz and King County Superior Court Judge Jaime Hawk are seeking Position 3, while Justice Theo Angelis and Thurston County Superior Court Judge Sharonda Amamilo are competing for Position 5. Incumbent Justice Colleen Melody, who was appointed earlier this year, is seeking election to Position 1, while Chief Justice Debra Stephens is seeking another term in Position 7.

Position 4 is also open, but because only two candidates have filed — Court of Appeals Judge Ian Birk and King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell — the primary for that race was canceled, and both advanced to the general election in November.

Several candidates pointed to personal experiences that shaped their legal careers.

Diaz, a Court of Appeals judge seeking a seat on the Supreme Court, described growing up in Washington after immigrating from Peru with his family. He spoke about his parents' path from working-class jobs to middle-class careers and said state courts play a critical role in protecting opportunities and rights for future generations.

Melody, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in January, highlighted a career spent in civil rights work. She described helping build the Civil Rights Division within the Washington Attorney General's Office and working on cases involving housing discrimination, consumer protections and challenges to federal policies affecting immigrants and civil rights.

Angelis, who joined the court in March following the retirement of Justice Susan Madsen, discussed his background in private practice and volunteer work on behalf of immigrants and refugees. He pointed to cases involving immigration detention and efforts to secure legal representation for children navigating immigration proceedings.

Candidates also emphasized the importance of public trust in the courts and the practical work required to ensure equal access to justice.

Stephens, the court's chief justice and longest-serving current member of the court, spoke about efforts to make courts more accessible and transparent. She said experience and institutional stability will be particularly important as the court undergoes significant turnover.

Amamilo, a Thurston County Superior Court judge and retired Army chief warrant officer, described a career working with families involved in child welfare, juvenile justice and mental health systems. She said those experiences helped shape her understanding of how court decisions affect communities across the state.

Hawk pointed to her work as a public defender, civil rights attorney and Superior Court judge. She said courts must protect constitutional rights while ensuring fairness and equal treatment under the law.

While the candidates brought different professional backgrounds and experiences to the discussion, many returned to a common theme: the growing importance of state courts in addressing questions involving constitutional rights, public confidence in government and access to justice.

The forum came as Washington voters prepare to consider multiple statewide judicial races in 2026, including several contests involving seats on the Washington Supreme Court.

The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 4.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media