Browsed by
Category: The Courts

Party challenge to Top 2 Primary back to Supreme Court?

Party challenge to Top 2 Primary back to Supreme Court?

Washington Democrats and Libertarians are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear yet another challenge of the  state’s popular Top 2 Primary.  Various appeals have been underway since voters approved the system by a landslide eight years ago. The open primary, which allows all voters to select their favorite candidates for each office, without regard to party label,  has been successfully used since 2008, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 to allow it.  The high court did leave open…

Read More Read More

Court: 2012 elections will use Redistricting Commission maps

Court: 2012 elections will use Redistricting Commission maps

The Washington Supreme Court has unanimously authorized use of the new Redistricting Commission boundaries to run the 2012 elections, even as a citizen challenge to the commission’s work proceeds. Secretary of State Sam Reed said he was pleased — and relieved — to get the ruling: “This is very good news. Our 2012 elections season is barreling down on us, with Filing Week beginning May 14 and Top 2 Primary ballots going in the mail in July. The counties are…

Read More Read More

Federal appeals court hears challenge of Top 2 Primary

Federal appeals court hears challenge of Top 2 Primary

Washington’s political parties are back in federal appeals court, continuing their six-year  challenge of the state’s popular voter-approved Top 2 Primary. The Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties of Washington asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday to throw out the system, which allows voters to choose their favorite for each office, without respect to party, with the two favorites advancing to the November General Election ballot.  Neither party is guaranteed a November runoff slot, and the Top 2…

Read More Read More

Governor appoints King County jurist Gonzalez to high court

Governor appoints King County jurist Gonzalez to high court

Temple of Justice, home of the State Supreme Court Gov. Chris Gregoire has chosen a successor to retiring Justice Gerry Alexander: veteran King County Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who came from an immigrant family with Mexican and Eastern European roots and was first named to the King County bench by Gov. Gary Locke, becomes the high court’s lone minority justice.  Gregoire, who praised his intellect and broad legal skills, also noted his gift for learning foreign languages and…

Read More Read More