Gerry Alexander, Washington’s widely admired senior jurist, will step down as chief justice of the state Supreme Court in a few months. He will revert to associate justice status as he prepares for mandatory retirement at the end of 2011.

Alexander is the state’s longest-serving chief justice, serving since 2001 after election by his peers on the high court. He is the Washington judiciary’s leading spokesman and advocate, presides over the court sessions and acts as chief administrator for the judicial branch of government. He serves on the state Bench-Bar-Press and a variety of organizations. He is a state history buff and was responsible for the court agreeing to televise all of its oral arugments on TVW television and online.

His successor will be chosen by the nine justices on Nov. 5, and installed in January. Alexander will remain on the bench until state law requires him to retire at the end of the year when he turns 75.  Charles Johnson is currently associate chief justice and is considered the favorite to become chief.

“It has been an incredible privilege and an honor to serve as the state’s chief justice for the past nine years,” Alexander said today. “I am immensely proud of our court and I feel this is the perfect time to turn this position over to one of my able colleagues.”

Alexander said he informed his colleagues of his decision earlier this month and that he will work to assure “a seamless transition.”

Alexander served as Superior Court judge for Thurston and Mason counties from 1973 to 1984, and served on the Appeals Court from 1985 to 1994. He was elected to an open seat on the Supreme Court in 1994. Last year, his peers elected him to a third consecutive term as chief justice.