State Supreme Court
"*" = incumbent
Position 3
Name: Charles W. Johnson *
Campaign phone: 858-3950
E-mail: johnsonj96@aol.com
Birthdate: 3-16-51
Occupation: Supreme Court justice
Education: B.A., University of Washington; J.D., University of Puget Sound
Political history: State Supreme Court, 1991-present
Family: spouse: Dana
Endorsements: Washington State Council of Police Officers, Washington State Labor Council, deans of Washington's three law schools, three past presidents of the Washington State Bar Association. King County Bar Association rating: well qualified
Why are you running for this office?
Before my election to the bench, my law practice was focused on helping people who had relatively normal legal problems, could not afford high legal fees and were impatient with the slowness of the system. On the court I've been committed to improving the system for people whose lives are affected by our decisions. But more improvements are needed.
What will be your top three priorities if elected?
1. justice firmly and swiftly served
2. continue efforts to improve access to the courts
3. efficiency reforms
Position 3
Name: Douglas J. Smith
Campaign phone: 258-4539
Birthdate: 12-16-28
Occupation: attorney
Education: B.A., Whitman College; J.D., University of Washington
Political history: special assistant to President Gerald Ford
Endorsements: I seek no endorsements and will solicit no campaign contributions. King County Bar Association rating: not qualified
Why are you running for this office?
I believe there is need for some change. At present, court-created gate-keeping rules are jeopardizing the independence of the judiciary, and undermining public confidence, by limiting citizen access to the courts and foreclosing timely debate on the constitutional limits of government authority.
What will be your top three priorities if elected?
1. court rules should encourage judicial economy, ensure adversarial debate
2. earning, not taking for granted, public confidence in the judiciary
3. serve both the weak and the powerful, equally
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