Information for Candidates

WWL Judicial Evaluation Procedures

Positions for Which WWL May Evaluate
The Committee shall evaluate those candidates seeking election or appointment to:

1. The Washington State Supreme Court.
2. The Washington State Court of Appeals.
3. The United States Federal District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and any other federal court for which a candidate from Washington seeks a rating.
4. Any Washington state trial-level position in a county where there is no WWL Chapter Judicial Evaluation Committee.

The Committee may, upon request of WWL’s Board, evaluate candidates for:

1. The Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors.
2. Executive appointments to State commissions, boards and public agencies.  The criteria for such evaluation shall be provided by the Board.  The Committee may have the discretion to decline to take such action.

General Process
To be rated by WWL for a judicial position, the Candidate must:

1. Complete and submit the Governor’s Uniform Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire with applicable attachments.
   
   
2. Complete and submit the Supplemental WWL Questionnaire and WWL’s waiver form.
   
3. Submit an electronic copy of (a) Governor’s Uniform Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire with applicable attachments and (b) Supplemental WWL Questionnaire and WWL’s waiver form to wwl@wwl.org and the current Judicial Chair, Amy Robinson, arobinson@smithfreed.com.
   
   If you are unable to provide an electronic version of the same please contact Amy Robinson by e-mail arobinson@smithfreed.com to specify alternative arrangements. Please indicate “Judicial Evaluation Request” in the subject line if contacting via e-mail.
   
   
4. Submit by mail a hard copy of (a) Governor’s Uniform Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire with applicable attachments and (b) Supplemental WWL Questionnaire and WWL’s waiver form to
   
   Washington Women Lawyers
   Attn: Judicial Affairs Committee
   P.O. Box 2026
   Seattle, WA 98111-2026

Interviews by the statewide WWL Judicial Evaluation Committee and the local WWL Judicial Evaluation Committees are conducted regularly throughout the year. Once a request for judicial evaluation is made, the WWL Chair of Judicial Affairs will contact you to coordinate the evaluation process. As the committee is comprised of volunteers, the candidate is encouraged to submit all application materials as early as possible. 

Upon completing the interviews, the Committee recommends a rating to the WWL Executive Board. The WWL State Board votes on the final rating.  The final rating is then provided to the Washington State Governor.  All deliberations, except for the final rating, are confidential.

WWL’s Criteria for Judicial Ratings

WWL uses the following criteria for rating candidates for judicial office:

A. No Rating.  A candidate shall be given No Rating if:

1. Insufficient information is available for the Committee evaluation at the time the candidate is being considered for rating;
2. The candidate has not submitted a timely application for a rating, including timely submission of materials requested by the Committee; or
3. The candidate has served as a member of the WWL Evaluation Committee or parallel chapter committee within one year of application for rating.

B. Unqualified.  A candidate shall be rated Unqualified if:

1. The candidate is not a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar or not a member in good standing of any other state’s Bar Association to which he or she has been admitted;
2. The candidate is currently a member of the judiciary and, during his or her current term of office, has been reprimanded or disciplined by the State Judicial Conduct Commission; or
   
3. The candidate has failed to meet the mandatory criteria for a Qualified rating.

C. Qualified.  A candidate shall be rated Qualified if:

1. The candidate is a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar and every Bar in which the candidate is an active member.
2. The candidate has a reputation for integrity, good character, courtesy, common sense, and respect for all persons.
3. The candidate demonstrates respect for the law, for the judicial process, and for the dignity of the court.
4. The candidate is fair and has a reputation for fairness and freedom from bias against any group or class of citizens.
5. The candidate possesses the ability to make difficult decisions under stress.
6. The candidate has good legal ability and good writing skills.
7. The candidate has the temperament and courtroom practice appropriate to the judicial position for which the candidate is being considered.
8. The candidate has the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with attorneys, litigants, and other participants in the courtroom.
9. The candidate has the ability to command respect from attorneys, litigants, and other participants in the courtroom, and has the energy and capacity for hard work.
   
   If the Candidate seeks a trial court position:
   
   
10. The candidate has the ability to manage pretrial and trial proceedings.  This includes the ability to weigh conflicting testimony, to make factual determinations, to handle a wide variety of issues and situations likely to be presented at court, and the ability to handle the demands of trial and motions calendars.

D. Well Qualified.  A candidate shall be rated as Well Qualified if:

1. The candidate meets the criteria for Qualified.
2. The candidate has demonstrated a commitment to equal justice under the law and is sensitive to issues important to women both within the profession and under the law.  Such commitment and sensitivity may be evidenced by the candidate’s courtroom practice, personal and professional background, professional and community activities including pro bono work, professional employment practices, mentoring and other support of women in the profession, or advocacy of legal issues important to women, including active participation in efforts to protect the rights of minorities.
3. The candidate either has judicial experience or experience as a neutral decision-maker or a demonstrated commitment to serving in the role of neutral decision-maker.

E. Exceptionally Well Qualified.  A candidate shall meet the criteria for Exceptionally Well Qualified if:

1. The candidate meets the criteria for Qualified and Well Qualified.
2. The candidate has demonstrated excellent legal ability and writing skills, which may be evidenced by excellent legal analysis and an excellent ability to deal with legal problems, by proven legal scholarship and writing, or by a reputation for excellence in legal work and practice.
3. The candidate has demonstrated exceptional litigation, judicial or administrative experience.
4. The candidate also has a reputation for outstanding personal and professional integrity, personal and professional independence, personal courage, and an excellent ability to make difficult decisions in demanding situations.
5. The candidate has consistently demonstrated commitment to equality and to access to justice.

All candidates shall have demonstrated some or all of the following:

1. Significant public service.
2. Potential for leadership on the bench.
3. An interest in and commitment to working with other judges and court administrators to improve the administration of justice.