Coverage, Statements,
and Commentary

SEATTLE, WA — Judge Dave Larson (Retired), an advocate for improving judicial elections and current candidate for the Washington State Supreme Court, has released the attached statement that lays out how judicial independence is being directly threatened by the judicial appointment and election process in our state. He also raises concerns about the impact special interests, partisan politics, and media reporting have on judicial independence and meaningful judicial elections.

The practice over the past 14 years has been for justices and judges to resign before the end of their term which allows the governor to appoint a replacement with no confirmation process or any objective criteria that would prevent appointments based on political considerations.

This isn't the first time Judge Larson raised the alarm on this issue writing an op-ed in the Seattle Times in December 2024, where he stated, "How we currently select judges and justices in our state is actually a real threat to judicial independence in a number of ways and we need to make changes soon." He was concerned that "Of the 207 judges who sit on the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Courts, Governor Inslee appointed 172 of them with no confirmation or approval process in his 12-year tenure; that's 83% of our judges. What if 83% of our legislators were hand-picked by the governor with no check and balance? How independent would our legislature be?"

At the time he wrote the op-ed, five of the nine justices had been initially elected by the people (55%) while four of them had been hand-picked by a governor. Currently, only three of the nine justices were initially elected by the people (33%) while six of them were hand-picked by a governor.

Judge Larson has offered meaningful solutions that would resolve these issues, including the creation of a merit-based system like civil service through a newly formed Judicial Elections Commission. A copy of the legislation that would make that a reality is attached. The proposed Judicial Elections Commission would prevent a governor from making political or self-interested appointments to our state's highest court. He closed his 2024 op-ed with the statement that "one thing is certain; the public deserves a better appointment and election process for judges and justices."

However, Larson notes today:

"Instead of improving the way we appoint justices and judges, our current governor has made appointments that are a full-frontal assault on judicial independence. He first appointed a senior staff member who worked directly for him at the Attorney General's Office and then appointed a longtime campaign contributor who was also a colleague at his former law firm to our state's highest court. Neither of the appointees ever served as a judge. The governor has also made a very public promise to do everything he can to get his favored candidates elected. He seems to want a judiciary that 'has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices…'"

As to the role of narrow partisan interests seeking to control judicial elections, Larson has sought broad support, including from Democrats and labor unions, but notes that other candidates stay within narrow partisan boundaries that do not include attempts to seek support from Republicans or business interests. Larson has been recommended by Republicans, and he is also supported by the Forward Party started by Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman and by the Cascade Party started by Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic.

In the Forward Party's endorsement announcement, Andrew Yang, Democratic presidential candidate and Co-Chair of the Forward Party, stated: "The Forward Party exists because Americans are tired of a system that serves itself instead of the people it is supposed to represent. Dave Larson is exactly the kind of candidate the Forward Party was created to support, and we are proud to stand behind him."

The Cascade Party is "building a political home for Washingtonians who are tired of the extremes and ready to rebuild trust in the public sector. Cascade Party supports candidates at all levels of government and represents communities across the entire state."

For more information or to support the campaign, visit larsonforjustice.com.

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SEATTLE, WA — May 28, 2026 — The Forward Party today announced its endorsement of Dave Larson for Washington State Supreme Court, Position 5. In backing Larson, the Forward Party is making a clear statement that Washington voters deserve to have the most qualified candidate sit as a justice on their highest court, not the Governor’s hand-picked selection.

The seat Larson is seeking is currently occupied by Theo Angelis, who was appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson in March 2026, the Governor’s second appointment to the Washington State Supreme Court in less than a year. Washington voters will now face a November ballot in which the incumbent justice is not someone they elected.

The Forward Party believes this is the kind of arrangement that erodes public trust in the independence of the judiciary and is precisely why this race matters. Voters should choose who sits on the state’s highest court, and Dave Larson has earned that choice.

He served as a Federal Way Municipal Court judge for 18 years, was a well-respected trial lawyer for 23 years, is a leader in criminal justice reform, was recognized statewide for his work on judicial independence, and received the 2018 DMCJA President’s Award for efforts that helped inspire the formation of Washington’s Council on Independent Courts. As an attorney, he earned an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible peer review distinction.

“Dave Larson has spent his career protecting judicial independence and serving his community. He represents the best of what independent, accountable leadership looks like,” said Christine Todd Whitman, Co-Chair of the Forward Party and former New Jersey Governor. “When a governor makes back-to-back appointments to the state’s highest court, it raises real questions about whose interests the court is meant to serve. Washington voters deserve a voice in that answer.”

Forward supports leaders who put the rule of law ahead of political loyalty and believe that courts should be accountable to voters, not to the politicians who appoint them. Larson reflects those values.

“The Forward Party exists because Americans are tired of a system that serves itself instead of the people it is supposed to represent,” said Andrew Yang, Co-Chair of the Forward Party. “Dave Larson is exactly the kind of candidate the Forward Party was created to support, and we are proud to stand behind him.”

Backing leaders who reflect more representative politics, The Forward Party believes in a system where problem-solving matters more than party labels, where elected officials are accountable to the people they serve, and where the independence of our courts is protected, not politicized. The Forward Party is building a national movement to support independent-minded leaders and expand choices for voters across the country. More information is available at forwardparty.com/candidates.

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The Forward Party is bringing moderates, conservatives, and progressives together to heal our political divisions, find our shared ground, and create a brighter future for America. Forward Party candidates are accountable to the voters, and they will focus on solutions, not partisan fighting, in order to serve their constituents better.

SEATTLE, WA — Judge Dave Larson (Retired) officially announced his campaign for Position 5 on the Washington State Supreme Court today, following the retirement announcement of Justice Barbara Madsen. Larson enters the race with massive statewide momentum, having earned over 1.6 million votes and coming within 0.61% of a seat on the state’s highest court in 2024.

After serving 18 years as a trial judge, Larson is coming out of a short retirement driven by a deep sense of duty to the people of Washington.

“In discussions with people about the direction our Court is taking, I decided that I just can’t walk away at this time,” said Judge Larson. “There is too much work left to do when it comes to making the court system more responsive to the needs of the people of our state. I want to be the voice of common sense on the Supreme Court so we can build a justice system that can be trusted by our trial judges and the people of this state to make decisions based on solid legal principles and what works for our communities.”

A Proven Leader in Criminal Justice Reform

On the issue of public safety, Larson has been a leader in implementing effective solutions. “We don’t need to be tougher or softer on crime; we need to be smarter on crime,” Larson noted. A recognized national leader in reform, in retirement he will be helping communities across the nation better respond to crime through proven effective strategies.

Restoring Trust in Government

Larson is also a recognized leader in civics education and is an advocate for changing the way we elect judges. He has proposed a process that will make judicial elections more understandable and meaningful for voters. He believes his candidacy arrives at a symbolic moment for the nation as we navigate through these times of conflict and discord during the year we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

“I want to breathe life into the principles of justice, fairness, and government accountability to the people as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” Larson added. “We need to find ways to come together to solve the problems we face, and the justice system should be the model by resolving the disputes we see in court in a way that shows us that we can all pursue life, liberty, and happiness peacefully together.”

For more information or to support the campaign, visit larsonforjustice.com.

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