Judicial Candidate Forum
KCBA hosted a public candidate forum on Monday, October 8 for the candidates seeking election to King County District Court. Video from that program is archived at www.kcba.org/For-Lawyers/Public-Policy/2018-King-County-District-Court-Candidate-Forum.
Judicial Candidate Evaluation Ratings
last updated 10/10/18
CONTESTED RACES
Supreme Court Position 8
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Steven González (incumbent) |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
justicegonzalez.com |
| Nathan Choi |
Refused to Cooperate |
None |
District Court Position Northeast 1
District Court Position Shoreline 1
UNCONTESTED RACES
Supreme Court Position 9
Superior Court Position 9
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Michael Scott (incumbent) |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
None |
Superior Court Position 22
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Karen Donohue (incumbent) |
Well Qualified |
None |
Superior Court Position 53
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Sandra Widlan (incumbent) |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
None |
Seattle Municipal Court Position 2
Seattle Municipal Court Position 3
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Adam Eisenberg (incumbent) |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
None |
Seattle Municipal Court Position 4
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Anita Crawford-Willis (incumbent) |
Well Qualified |
None |
Seattle Municipal Court Position 6
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Faye Chess (incumbent) |
Well Qualified |
None |
District Court Position Northeast 3
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Lisa O'Toole (incumbent) |
Qualified |
None |
District Court Position Southeast 1
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Jason Poydras (incumbent) |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
None |
District Court Position Southeast 2
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Matthew York (incumbent) |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
None |
District Court Position Southeast 5
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Virginia Amato |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
None |
District Court Position Southeast 6
District Court Position Southwest 3
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Laurel Gibson (incumbent) |
Well Qualified |
None |
District Court Position West 1
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Lisa Paglisotti (incumbent) |
Exceptionally Well Qualified |
None |
District Court Position West 4
| CANDIDATE |
KCBA RATING |
WEBSITE |
| Gregg Hirakawa (incumbent) |
Qualified |
None |
More About KCBA Ratings
The King County Bar Association publishes ratings for any candidate who has filed election paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission or the King County Elections Department, provided we have issued a rating. KCBA is committed to releasing ratings in every contested judicial election that appears on the King County ballot, as well as for any candidate who requests a rating. Generally incumbent judges running unopposed do not seek ratings. Candidates with “rating pending” have not yet supplied all reference materials to KCBA – though materials were requested from all eligible candidates on July 5.
KCBA plans to issue ratings for all candidates, including those who do not provide materials, by September 30 (general election ballots are mailed to voters on October 17). Any candidate not in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association is automatically rated "not qualified." In addition, any candidate who does not respond to KCBA's request for information may also receive a “not qualified” or “refused to cooperate” rating.
Supreme Court challengers Lippmann and Scannell were removed from the ballot as of June 5 after a court ruling finding them ineligible to run for judicial office. See www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/disbarred-attorneys-not-qualified-to-run-for-state-supreme-court-booted-off-the-ballot for details.
Note that a three person primary election will occur on August 7 (ballots mailed July 18) for King County District Court Northeast Division 1. The two candidates receiving the most votes (Naylor & Schaer) move on to the general election November 6.
For additional information on KCBA’s work with judicial candidate and officer evaluations, visit www.kcba.org/judicialresources. To learn more about all judicial candidates, please visit www.votingforjudges.org.