LRC judicial recommendations – Aug. 17 primary election

The LRC supports Justice Jim Johnson, Justice Barbara Madsen and Pierce County Superior Court Presiding Judge Bryan Chushcoff for the Supreme Court. 

The ballots for the Aug. 17 primary are arriving in voters’ mailboxes now.  The stakes are high for this election, with at least two Supreme Court races decided in the primary.  Because two of the three races are a two-way contest, the candidate who receives over 50 percent of the primary election vote will advance to the general election without a challenger on the ballot. 

The LRC, with a membership that includes more than 60 of Washington state’s most influential businesses and trade associations, supports qualified candidates who share its views on limiting the expansion of tort liability and reducing the cost of litigation, yet speeding the resolution of civil actions and improving fairness and certainty within the civil justice system.

LRC supports Jim Johnson
Justice Jim Johnson has a lifetime score of 87 percent on the LRC Judicial Scorecard, which puts him in first place.  Since being elected to the court six years ago, Justice Johnson has emerged as one of the Court’s most effective members – sitting on over 700 cases and authoring over 140 opinions.  He is in the majority over 90% of the time.  He richly deserves to be re-elected. 

Justice Johnson is running against Tacoma plaintiff’s lawyer, Stan Rumbaugh.  Mr. Rumbaugh’s practice is described by the Associated Press as “personal injury, workers’ compensation and wrongful death.”  Mr. Rumbaugh served on the board of governors for the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (WSTLA) and is the past chair of WSTLA’s legislative committee. 

The contrast between Justice Jim Johnson and Mr. Rumbaugh couldn’t be clearer.  Justice Johnson has judicial experience; Mr. Rumbaugh has none.  Justice Johnson was one of our state’s most trusted appeals attorneys prior to his election; Mr. Rumbaugh has handled a mere two cases before the state Supreme Court.  Justice Johnson has a record of judicial restraint; Mr. Rumbaugh has identified many cases where he would have used the power of the court to rewrite state law. 

Jim Johnson for Justice
P.O. Box 6821
Tacoma, WA 98417
360-539-2012
www.jimjohnsonforjustice.org

LRC supports Bryan Chuschoff
Judge Bryan Chushcoff has served as a Pierce County Superior Court Judge for 13 years.  He is currently serving his second term as Presiding Judge, a position to which he was elected by his peers.  Judge Chushcoff’s view that the role of a Supreme Court justice is to strictly apply the law as provided by the legislature rather than to create an outcome based on ideology or political preference is refreshing.  His intellect and experience will provide the Court with fairness and predictability. 

Judge Chushcoff is running against Justice Richard Sanders who has a paltry score of 34% on the LRC Judicial Scorecard, which puts him in seventh place on the Court.  A third opponent, Charlie Wiggins, told the LRC he wouldn’t expect his score to be any higher than Justice Sanders’. 

Judge Chushcoff is clearly the strongest candidate in this three-way race. 

Elect Bryan Chushcoff
P.O. Box 6948
Tacoma, WA  98517
www.chushcoff4justice.com

LRC supports Barbara Madsen
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen has a lifetime score of 63 percent on the LRC Judicial Scorecard, which consistently puts her in second place.  She is a strong asset to the Court and the LRC supports her bid for another six-year term. 

Committee to Re-Elect Barbara Madsen
P.O. Box 46752
Seattle, WA 98146
www.chiefjusticemadsen.org