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OLYMPIA: Sanders seeks second term on state Supreme Court The
Associated Press 4/1/04 Justice Richard Sanders, a leading voice for libertarians in Washington state, on Wednesday announced his bid for a second term on the state Supreme Court. "The protection of our constitutional liberties is more important now than at any time in our generation," Sanders said in his kickoff announcement. Sanders, an attorney in private practice in Bellevue for 26 years before ousting an appointed Supreme Court justice in a special election in 1995, is going for his second full six-year term. He was re-elected in 1998 with 64 percent of the vote, carrying all 39 counties. So far, Sanders has no announced opponents. If he gets 50 percent or more of the primary vote in September, he will be elected. (Published 12:55AM, April 1st, 2004) RELATED STORY: Sanders re-ups for Supreme Court By
DAVID AMMONS OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Justice Richard Sanders, a leading voice for libertarians in Washington state, on Wednesday announced his bid for a second term on the state Supreme Court. "The protection of our constitutional liberties is more important now than at any time in our generation," Sanders said in his kickoff announcement. Sanders, an attorney in private practice in Bellevue for 26 years before ousting an appointed Supreme Court justice in a special election in 1995, is going for his second full six-year term. He was re-elected in 1998 with 64 percent of the vote, carrying all 39 counties. So far, Sanders has no announced opponents. If he gets 50 percent or more of the primary vote in September, he will be elected. Sanders said he draws support from across the political spectrum, and has the backing of 16 states senators from both parties. His legislative backers include one of the most liberal, Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, and some of the most conservative. Campaign co-chairs are former state Majority Leader Dale Foreman, the former GOP chairman; Lenell Nussbaum, former president of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; and Lem Howell of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Howell, a longtime leader in the black community, said the judge is a "beacon for civil libertarians who frequently praise Sanders' forceful defense of our freedoms. ... Justice Sanders is one of the most courageous justices that I know." Sanders said he votes with the majority 80 percent of the time, but dissents when he feels obliged. "I try to apply the law as written," he said. "The Constitution protects all our liberties, not just the ones that favor a particular group. ... No matter who you are, how powerful you are, without regard to your ethnicity or religion or pocketbook, you have a right to have your legal rights protected by the Supreme Court." Justice Barbara Madsen is running for re-election and a number of
challengers are lining up for a seat being vacated by Justice Faith
Ireland.
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