Washington
Washington’s highest court is the Washington Supreme Court. The court has seven justices, one associate chief justice, and one chief justice, who is chosen for a four-year term by a majority of the members of the court. (Source: Washington Constitution)
Judicial Selection
Washington Supreme Court justices are selected through a nonpartisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. The elected justice serves a six-year term. Justices may seek additional terms through nonpartisan elections. When a seat opens in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate to fill the vacancy. The appointed justice holds office until Washington’s next general election. The elected justice serves the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 75.
State Constitution
Washington’s first and only state constitution was adopted in 1889. As of January 1, 2026, it had 109 amendments. (Data on file with John Dinan, Wake Forest University.)
Filters
A Conversation with Professor Robert Williams About the Abortion Case He Lost Four Decades Ago
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court case, which was overturned in 2024, unanimously upheld the state’s ban on funding abortion through state Medicaid.
Fines, Fees, and Bail in State Courts
Recent state supreme court cases, including a major California ruling last week, address the burden of court-imposed financial obligations on criminal defendants.
Missouri High Court Decision Offers Lessons About Advancing Voting Rights
The court blocked restrictions on voter registration efforts as violating free speech rights.
Limiting the Damage of the Juvenile Sentencing Case I Lost
Half a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it wouldn’t extend protections for children facing life without parole, state constitutions offer hope.
Can States Ban Federal Officers from Wearing Masks?
The answer likely boils down to whether courts believe masking is necessary for the federal government to do its job.
How Are State Judges Selected?
Thirty-eight states use elections as part of their system for choosing high court judges.
The Right to Counsel in an Age of Case-Specific and Systemic Inadequacies
State courts and constitutions can offer meaningful solutions to federal gaps in the right to counsel.
Substantive Rights and Prison Conditions
Transcript of panel from Symposium: State Constitutions and the Limits of Criminal Punishments