Debra L. Stephens
Legal/Judicial Experience
Current Chief Justice and Justice since 2008. Court of Appeals Judge, Eastern Washington (2007). Appellate Attorney & adjunct professor, Gonzaga University (1993-2007).
Other Professional Experience
Board for Judicial Administration Co-Chair, National Association of Women Judges, Judicial Independence Committee Co-Chair, Chief Justices Conference Executive Committee, National Courts & Sciences Institute Director, National Judicial College Instructor, WA Civic Learning Council, former Spokane Community College instructor.
Education
Gonzaga University, J.D., B.A. West Valley High, Spokane.
Community Service
Former school board chair, Upward Bound mentor, Minority & Justice Commission, YMCA Youth & Government, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Past Rotary President, Washington Center for Performing Arts board member.
Statement
As Washington’s Chief Justice, I am dedicated to upholding the rule of law and delivering fair and impartial justice. Courts are a critical branch of government, where every person must be treated fairly and with dignity, and decisions must be based on the law and the facts. In an era of growing attempts to politicize the judiciary, I work every day to maintain the integrity and independence of our courts and safeguard access to justice for every person.
As a former constitutional law professor, I respect legal traditions and constitutional principles. As a parent and former school board chair, I understand how court decisions impact the lives of Washington families. As the first woman from Eastern Washington on the Court, I know that lived experience and diverse perspectives matter in making sound decisions.
I have a proven record of expanding access to justice, improving efficiency and transparency, addressing the evolving challenges facing our legal system, and protecting individual rights. I have always enjoyed broad support and am endorsed by my current and former colleagues, judges statewide, WA State Labor Council, elected officials, and education and community leaders. I ask for your vote to continue serving you on our Supreme Court.
Community Engagement
Written endorsements
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Endorsements
Associate Chief Justice Charles W. JohnsonJustice Steven C. GonzálezJustice Sheryl Gordon McCloudJustice Raquel Montoya-LewisJustice G. Helen WhitenerJustice Salvador A. MungiaJustice Colleen M. MelodyJustice Theodore J. AngelisJudge Rachelle AndersonJudge Kristin BallingerJudge Breean BeggsJudge Johanna BenderJudge Elizabeth BernsJudge Ian BirkJudge Andrew BivanoJudge Charnelle BjelkengrenJudge Bill BowmanJudge Cadine BrownJudge Brett BuckleyJudge Tam BuiJudge Joe CampagnaJudge Monica CaryJudge Meng Li CheJudge Dean Tze-Ming ChuangJudge Janet ChungJudge Linda CoburnJudge John CooneyJudge Tsering CornellJudge Anita Crawford-WillisJudge Anne CruserJudge Candie DibbleJudge Anne EgelerJudge Michael EvansJudge Jennifer FassbenderJudge Leonard FeldmanJudge Marshall FergusonJudge Kristin FerreraJudge David FreemanJudge Veronica GalvanJudge Rebecca GlasgowJudge Stephen GreerJudge Tony HazelJudge Cecily HazelriggJudge Nikole HecklingerJudge Jacquelyn High-EdwardJudge Tyson HillJudge Jason HollowayJudge Kevin HullJudge Patrick JohnsonJudge Robert JourdanJudge Angela KaakeJudge Dave KeenanJudge Steven KrupaJudge Chris LaneseJudge Matt LapinJudge Mark LarranagaJudge Cindy LarsenJudge Robert Lawrence-BerreyJudge Linda CJ LeeJudge Kent LiuJudge Susan LlorensJudge Mary LoganJudge David MannJudge Amiee MauerJudge Bradley MaxaJudge Adrienne McCoyJudge John McHaleJudge Megan MurphyJudge Gloria Ochoa-BruckJudge Pat OishiJudge Richard OkrentJudge James OrlandoJudge Kristen O’SullivanJudge Sue ParisienJudge Nicole PhelpsJudge Annette PleseJudge Andrea RobertsonJudge Sonia Rodriguez TrueJudge Jim RogersJudge Stan RumbaughJudge Averil RothrockJudge Ben SantosJudge Christine SchallerJudge Jeremy SchmidtJudge Ketu ShahJudge John SkinderJudge Lori K. SmithJudge Tracy StaabJudge Aimee SuttonJudge Shelly SzambleanJudge Indu ThomasJudge Tanya ThorpJudge Elizabeth TutschJudge Haydee VargasJudge Bernard VeljacicJudge Patti WalkerJudge Bruce WeissJudge David WhedbeeJudge Sandra WidlanJudge Kalo WilcoxJudge Coreen WilsonJudge Mary Sue WilsonJudge Paul WohlJudge Andrew Van WinkleJudge Wyman YipJudge Mindy YoungJudge Jenny ZapponeGovernor Bob FergusonLieutenant Governor Denny HeckCommissioner of Public Lands Dave UpthegroveCongresswoman Marilyn StricklandSenate Majority Leader Jamie PedersenSpeaker of the House Laurie JinkinsState Senator Emily AlvaradoState Senator Manka DhingraState Senator Noel FrameState Senator Drew HansenState Senator Bob HasegawaState Senator Claudia KauffmanState Senator Marko LiiasState Senator John LovickState Senator June RobinsonState Senator Rebecca SaldañaState Senator Vandana SlatterState Senator Yasmin TrudeauState Senator Claire WilsonState Representative April BergState Representative Liz BerryState Representative Beth DoglioState Representative Debra EntenmanState Representative Darya FarivarState Representative Joe FitzgibbonState Representative Roger GoodmanState Representative Mia GregersonState Representative Nicole MacriState Representative Edwin ObrasState Representative Timm OrmsbyState Representative Lisa ParshleyState Representative Julia ReedState Representative Osman SalahuddinState Representative Chipalo StreetState Representative Jamila TaylorState Representative My-Linh ThaiState Representative Brianna ThomasState Representative Joe TimmonsState Representative Sharon Tomiko SantosState Representative Tarra SimmonsPierce County Executive Ryan MelloKing County Executive Girmay ZahilaySpokane Mayor Lisa BrownOlympia Mayor Dontae PayneKing County Councilmember Jorge BarónKing County Councilmember Rod DembowskiSeattle Port Commissioner Ryan CalkinsThurston County Prosecutor Jon TunheimSnohomish County Sheriff Susanna JohnsonRetired Chief Justice Gerry AlexanderRetired Justice Bobbe BridgeRetired Justice Faith IrelandRetired Justice Barbara MadsenRetired Justice Mary YuRetired Judge Lesley AllanRetired Judge Marcine AndersonRetired Judge Marlin AppelwickRetired Judge Stephanie ArendRetired Judge Richard BartheldRetired Judge Mary Kay BeckerRetired Judge Greg CanovaRetired Judge Ellen ClarkRetired Judge Harold ClarkeRetired Judge Raymond ClaryRetired Judge Scott CollierRetired Judge Leonard CostelloRetired Judge Ron CulpepperRetired Judge Andrea DarvusRetired Judge Karen DonohueRetired Judge William DowningRetired Judge David ElofsonRetired Judge Deborah FleckRetired Judge Michael FoxRetired Judge David FrazierRetired Judge Julia GarrattRetired Judge Deborra GarrettRetired Judge Helen HalpertRetired Judge Keith HarperRetired Judge Bruce HellerRetired Judge Robert HenryRetired Judge Anne HirschRetired Judge J Robin HuntRetired Judge Laura InveenRetired Judge Kevin KorsmoRetired Judge Anne LevinsonRetired Judge John LohrmannRetired Judge Barbara MackRetired Judge Elizabeth MartinRetired Judge Rich MelnickRetired Judge Annette MessittRetired Judge Patrick MonasmithRetired Judge Maryann MorenoRetired Judge Alicia NakataRetired Judge Kathleen O’ConnorRetired Judge Lisa PaglisottiRetired Judge Judy RamseyerRetired Judge Kristin RichardsonRetired Judge Erik RohrerRetired Judge Ann SchindlerRetired Judge Susan SerkoRetired Judge T. W. Chip SmallRetired Judge Michael SpearmanRetired Judge Gregory SypoltRetired Judge Linda TompkinsRetired Judge Michael TrickeyRetired Judge Jay WhiteRetired Judge Diane WoolardRetired Judge Kitty-Ann van DoorninckFormer Governor Christine GregoireFormer State Senator Karen FraserFormer State Senator Fred JarrettFormer State Representative Laurie DolanFormer State Representative Sandra RomeroFormer King County Executive Dow ConstantineFormer Olympia Mayor Doug MahFormer Seattle Mayor Jenny DurkanFormer King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-WellesFormer King County Councilmember Joe McDermottFormer King County Councilmember Larry PhillipsFormer Seattle City Councilmember Martha ChoeFormer King County Prosecutor Dan SatterbergFormer Benton County Prosecutor Andy MillerGeorge AhrendBev AndersonBeth BerendtPaul BerendtLisa BrodoffJudith ChelottiAi-Li Chiong-MartinsonTyler CronePatrick CroninKevin CurtisLisa DaugaardJennifer DivineCheryl DuryeaAline FlowerDavid FogartyJay FullerLeo FullerRobert GellatlyScott GingrasChris GoelzLynn GrotskyDebra HannulaBryan HarnetiauxLembhard HowellCarl HueberNancy IsserlisJerry KroonMarsha LongMerritt LongPaul MackAnnette MeyerMartin MeyerChristy PetersPatrick RantsDiego Rondon IchikawaGabrielle RothDave SavageLarry ShannonDan ShihMelanie StewartGail StoneElizabeth TellessenBeth TerrellKellye TestySam ThomasRon WardCindy WhaleyWayne Williams
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