⚠️ Important 2026 Changes
Two seats will open in 2026:
- Position 4: Justice Charles Johnson will retire at age 75 (mandatory retirement)
- Position 3: Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis has chosen not to seek reelection
Both terms end: January 10, 2027
📄 New Research Available
Comprehensive profiles of potential candidates for the two opening seats are now available:
Washington Supreme Court 2026: Potential Candidates
Deep biographical analysis examining educational background, career patterns, family networks, and life choices beyond campaign statements.
Available formats: HTML | PDF | ODT
Current Composition (As of January 2026)
Nine Justices serve six-year terms:
Position 1 - Chief Justice Steven González
- Assumed Chief Justice role: January 11, 2021
- Appointed to court by Gov. Gregoire: January 2012
- Current term ends: 2029
Position 2 - Justice Salvador "Sal" Mungia
- Elected November 2024 (defeated Dave Larson)
- Term began: January 2025
- First election to fill Justice Susan Owens' seat
- Current term ends: 2031
Position 3 - Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis ⚠️ DEPARTING 2026
- Appointed by Gov. Inslee: December 2019
- First Native American elected statewide in Washington history
- NOT seeking reelection - term ends January 10, 2027
- Reason for departure: Personal choice; plans to write books, teach, and mentor
Position 4 - Associate Chief Justice Charles W. Johnson ⚠️ DEPARTING 2026
- Elected to court: 1990
- Associate Chief Justice since: 2017
- Longest-serving active justice (34 years on court)
- MANDATORY RETIREMENT at age 75 - term ends January 10, 2027
- Constitutional requirement (Article IV, Section 3a of Washington Constitution)
- Campaign finance score: -1.16 (liberal leaning, more liberal than WA average -0.91)
Position 5 - Justice Debra L. Stephens
- Appointed by Gov. Gregoire: March 2008
- Current term ends: 2029
Position 6 - Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud
- Elected November 2012 (open seat)
- Reelected November 2024 (unopposed)
- Current term ends: 2031
Position 7 - Justice G. Helen Whitener
- Appointed by Gov. Inslee: January 2020
- Current term ends: 2027 (up for election 2026)
Position 8 - Justice Mary I. Yu
- Appointed by Gov. Inslee: June 2014
- First openly LGBT justice on Washington Supreme Court
- NOTE: Retired December 31, 2024
- Replacement: Colleen Melody (appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, sworn in January 2025)
Position 9 - Justice Colleen Melody (newly appointed)
- Appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson: January 2025
- Former chief of Civil Rights Division at Washington Attorney General's Office
- Will run for election in 2026 to serve remainder of Yu's term through 2028
Historical Context
Court Ideology: A 2012 study by Stanford University political science professors ranked the Washington State Supreme Court as the 5th most liberal state supreme court nationwide. Campaign finance analysis showed an average score of -0.91 (liberal) among Washington justices.
Significant Turnover (2024-2026):
- Justice Susan Owens retired 2024 (age 75) → Sal Mungia elected
- Justice Mary Yu retired December 2024 → Colleen Melody appointed
- Justice Charles Johnson retiring 2026 (age 75) → Candidate TBD
- Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis departing 2026 → Candidate TBD
Result: Four new justices joining the court between 2024-2027, representing the largest turnover in recent court history.
Election Process
Washington State Supreme Court justices are elected through nonpartisan elections for six-year terms. While elections are officially nonpartisan, political affiliations and judicial philosophies are often evident through:
- Gubernatorial appointments (when seats open mid-term)
- Campaign contributions and endorsements
- Professional associations and career patterns
- Educational backgrounds and life choices
Mandatory Retirement: Washington State Constitution (Article IV, Section 3a) requires justices to retire at age 75.