To Washington voters:
There is nothing more essential to our democracy than an impartial and trusted judiciary. Every
single person deserves to know that when they step into a courtroom, they will be treated with
respect, their arguments will be heard, and judgments will be free of bias.
This is all especially true in this moment of unprecedented political polarization and extremism
in our country that we see bleeding into the judiciary.
Unfortunately, Judge Ian Birk has made serious and false accusations about Judge O’Donnell.
In a recent fundraising email to his supporters, Judge Birk accused Judge O’Donnell of:
• Choosing to “join” a slate of candidates recommended by the State GOP;
• Being “affiliated” with the State GOP while a judge;
• Having a “partisan agenda” in his campaign for State Supreme Court
He also suggested that Judge O’Donnell has misled voters (the “veil was lifted”) and is running
for the Supreme Court with a “partisan agenda” that is “out of touch with the values and
priorities of Washington.”
Many of us also know Judge Birk and respect him. But these accusations run afoul of a judge
and judicial candidate’s most important obligations – getting the facts right and being
“scrupulously honest” in their campaign statements. See Washington State Code of Judicial
Conduct Rule 4.1(a)(10) and comment 7 to the same.
Judge Sean O’Donnell has served without political bias for over 25 years as a King County
Prosecutor, King County Superior Court Judge, and Pro Tem Supreme Court Justice.
Many of us have known Judge O’Donnell for years. Some of us consult with him on cases.
Some of us work with him on policy issues affecting the judiciary. Some of us do both.
None of us have ever heard him suggest or inject partisan politics into any of his decisions or
work he has done for the judicial branch.
We have heard him talk in this race that legal help is unaffordable in civil and family law cases;
that he supports treating crime victims with dignity and respect; that he works for consensus on
projects to improve the judiciary, like full funding for court interpreters and courthouse security;
and that he wants to improve the Supreme Court’s rule-making process.
This is not a “partisan agenda” out of touch with Washingtonians’ values.
Unsurprisingly, given his record of consensus building, Judge O’Donnell has bi-partisan support
for this non-partisan race.
Democratic elected officials and many Democratic Party organizations have endorsed Judge
O’Donnell. State and local Republicans have endorsed him too.
In judicial races, bipartisan support is something to be celebrated rather than demonized.
September 2026
We understand that campaigns for public office are challenging, and candidates will always
attempt to draw contrasts with each other to help voters make these important decisions.
When it comes to judicial races, our hope is that the candidates focus on their records and their
visions for the court. This is what the public deserves, and it is what Washington’s judiciary
needs – not toxic political blows.
Reasonable people will disagree on who to ultimately vote for in this election. However, all of us
share a concern and fear that judicial campaigns are increasingly becoming too similar to the
types of political campaigns that dominate national politics.
None of us want that for Washington State.
The race between Judge Birk and Judge O’Donnell will be one of the most closely watched of
the election season, with a real and substantive contrast in experience and ideas that voters
deserve.
Let’s keep the campaign to those important issues.
Signed:
Susan Adams, Judge Pierce County Superior Court
Rachelle Anderson, Judge Spokane County Superior
Court
Kristin Ballinger, Judge King County Superior Court
Simon Barnhart, Judge Clallam County Superior Court
Tracy Brandt, Commissioner Chelan County Superior Court
Alicia Burton, Judge Pierce County Superior Court
Samuel Chung, Judge King County Superior Court
Harold Clarke III, Judge (ret.) Spokane County Superior
Court
Karen Donohue, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Kristin Ferrera, Judge Chelan County Superior Court
Jennifer Forbes, Judge Kitsap County Superior Court
Julia Garratt, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Laurel Gibson, Judge King County District Court
Jennifer Grant, Judge Lake Forest Park Municipal
Court
Robert Grant, Commissioner Lynnwood Municipal Court
Melissa Hemstreet, Judge Kitsap County Superior Court
William C. Houser, Judge Kitsap County Superior Court
Kevin Hull, Judge (ret.) Kitsap County Superior Court
Laura Inveen, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Robert Jourdan, Judge Chelan County Superior Court
Angela Kaake, Judge King County Superior Court
Matthew Lapin, Judge King County Superior Court
Cindy Larsen, Judge Snohomish County Superior
Court
Nelson Lee, Judge King County Superior Court
Barbara Mack, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Lisa Malpass, Judge Ferry, Pend Oreille, & Stevens
Counties
Adrienne McCoy, Judge King County Superior Court
Brian McDonald, Judge King County Superior Court
Catherine McDowell, Judge Seattle Municipal Court
John McHale, Judge King County Superior Court
Jack Nevin, Judge (ret.) Pierce County Superior Court
Lisa O'Toole, Judge King County District Court
Patrick Oishi, Judge King County Superior Cour
Sue Parisien, Judge King County Superior Court
Judge Scott Peters, Judge Pierce County Superior Court
Jennifer Petersen, Judge King County Superior Court
Cindi Port, Judge King County Superior Court
Thomas Quinlan, Judge Pierce County Superior Court
Judith Ramseyer, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Kristin Richardson, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Andy King Robertson, Judge King County Superior Court
Rebecca Robertson, Judge King County District Court
Tina Robinson, Judge Kitsap County Superior Court
Jim Rogers, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Roger Rogoff, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Jay Roof, Judge (ret.) Kitsap County Superior Court
Steve Rosen, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Ken Schubert, Judge King County Superior Court
Michael R. Scott, Judge King County Superior Court
Catherine Shaffer, Judge (ret.) King County Superior Court
Kristin Shotwell, Judge King County District Court
Christon C. Skinner, Judge Island County Superior Court
N. Scott Stewart, Judge Issaquah Municipal Court
Kitty-Ann van Doorninck, Judge (ret.) Pierce County Superior Court
Stephen M. Warning, Judge (ret.) Cowlitz County Superior Court
Sandra Widlan, Judge King County Superior Court
Angelica Williams, Judge Pierce County Superior Court
Coreen Wilson, Judge King County Superior Court
Risa Wood, Judge Maple Valley Municipal Court
Wyman Yip, Judge King County Superior Court
Matthew York, Judge King County District Court
Melinda Young, Judge King County Superior Court
Letter submitted by Campaign for Judge Sean O’Donnell.
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