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, 2024, it had 108 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in October
Issues on the dockets include New York’s Voting Rights Act, investigations of gender-affirming care for minors, and Meta’s challenge to a disclosure law for political ads.
Book Excerpt: Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy
The U.S. prison system violates democratic social orders aiming to lessen racist and class hierarchies. Its development was not inevitable.
Book Excerpt: Sedition: How America's Constitutional Order Emerged from Violent Crisis
Throughout history, state constitutional drafting has involved failure and violent crisis and has sometimes torn us apart rather than brought us together.
How Will Federal Funding Cuts Impact State Budgets?
Fiscal provisions found in every state constitution constrain states’ ability to work around budget shortfalls.
How the Tort Wars Became the Court Wars
Recent rulings in Ohio and North Carolina demonstrate divisions on medical malpractice damages caps.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in September
Issues on the dockets include charter schools, minimum wage for live-in caregivers, online arbitration agreements, and a controversial handwritten date requirement for mail ballots.
How Much Do You Know About State Constitutions and Courts?
Learn why state constitutions are so long, which high court is almost completely made up of women, and more.
Law Student Cheat Sheet: Understanding State Courts and Constitutions
As the school year kicks off, we’ve rounded up some of our top explainer essays on how state courts and state constitutions work, protect rights, and influence major U.S. legal issues. Consider it your “State Constitutions 101.”