next general election; successor holds office for remainder of unexpired term
Court of Appeals:
next general election; successor holds office for remainder of unexpired term
Superior Court:
next general election; successor holds office for remainder of unexpired term
Supreme Court:
peer vote
Court of Appeals:
peer vote
Superior Court:
peer vote***
Supreme Court:
4 yrs
Court of Appeals:
1 yr
Superior Court:
at least 1 yr***
Supreme Court:
licensed to practice in state; retirement age is 75
Court of Appeals:
5 yrs practice in state; resident of district at least 1 yr
Superior Court:
licensed to practice in state; retirement age is 75
Selection and retention methods and term lengths are prescribed by Article IV of the Washington Constitution and Chapter 2.06 of the Revised Code of Washington.
*Currently, the supreme court has one justice from eastern Washington (Debra Stephens), while six of the justices are from the Seattle-Tacoma area. Various proposals have been made in the legislature for geographically based election schemes.
**Judicial candidates run in a primary election. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the names of the top two vote getters are placed on the general election ballot.
***Each superior court district may establish local rules for the appointment and term of the chief judge. However, the chief judge must be selected by a vote of his/her peers and the term must be at least one year.
