SEQUIM — Incumbent state Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders defended his record against challengers Charlie Wiggins and Bryan Chushcoff, who criticized his dissenting court opinions in a Concerned Citizens of Clallam County forum this week.
About 200 residents packed the Sequim Boys & Girls Club for a two-hour forum Monday that featured four state Supreme Court justice hopefuls and syndicated talk radio show host Mike Siegel.
The fourth judge at the forum was Tacoma attorney Stan Rumbaugh, whose opponent, Justice Jim Johnson of Olympia, did not appear.
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen of Seattle is running unopposed in the primary.
Washington state Supreme Court Justices serve six-year terms.
Ballots for the Aug. 17 primary will be mailed today. In judicial races, a candidate can win the office during the primary, even if several are running, by receiving more than 50 percent of the primary vote wins the office.
Dissenting opinions
Wiggins, a former Court of Appeals judge who has a law office on Bainbridge Island and also acts as a pro tem judge in Jefferson County, and Chushcoff, presiding judge of Pierce County Superior Court, said that Sanders — won a special election in 1995 and was re-elected for two six-year terms in 1998 and 2004 — had given soft sanctions in lawyer discipline cases.
Wiggins said Sanders was the lone dissenter in an 8-1 ruling to disbar a lawyer accused of molesting an 11-year-old boy and former client.
“Justice Sanders has written 15 decisions in lawyer discipline cases,” Wiggins said.
“In 14 of the 15 cases, he held against the discipline recommended by the disciplinary board and in favor of the lawyer.”
Chushcoff said that Sanders was the lone dissenter in a state Supreme Court ruling in favor of a three strikes law.
“I’m concerned about what it looks like to the public about the impartiality of the courts,” Chushcoff said.
“I’ve got a good track record of being a fair, impartial and decisive judge who rules consistently.”
Backs individual rights
Sanders, who has served on the state’s highest court for 15 years, defended a record that includes 2,000 state Supreme Court cases and writing 570 opinions.
Sanders, who did not respond the specific points brought up by opponents, said he is an advocate for individual rights.
“It seems to me that you need someone on the state Supreme Court who is willing to stand up for your rights no matter who you are,” Sanders said.
“As far as I’m concerned, the most important thing we do on the state Supreme Court is interpret and apply our state constitution.”
Each candidate was given five minutes to make an opening statement. Each answered two questions that were selected at random and given an opportunity to respond to their opponents’ answers.
The candidates were asked about their judicial philosophies, interpretations of the law, and the U.S. and state constitutions.
The forum ended with each candidate making a brief closing statement.
U.S. at ‘crossroads’
Siegel also spoke, discussing the importance of getting involved in the 2010 election.
“Whatever your point of view, the country is at a crossroads,” Siegel said.
“One way or the other, this is a very serious crossroads. And it is time that everybody got involved to support what they believe the direction this country ought to take will be.”
Siegel said knocking on doors is still the most effective way to spread a political message.
“Nothing replaces knocking on doors,” he said.
Siegel said that independent voters will determine the 2010 elections.
“You pick a candidate and make sure that it’s not just throwing a dart at a dartboard,” Siegel said.
“Make sure you know exactly why you chose that candidate, that they reflect your views and your values.”
Concerned Citizens of Clallam County, or FourC, meets on the fourth Monday of each month.
For more information, visit www.newsocialcontract.com or e-mail fourc.info@yahoo.com.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.