SOURCE: WA.GOV
I guess this is the sort of navel gazing that passes for news these days around the offices of the Seattle Times editorial board:
With the retirement of state Supreme Court Justice Jim Johnson for health reasons, Gov. Jay Inslee will have the opportunity to appoint a justice to the nine-member panel. The Spokesman-Review and the Yakima Herald-Republic have joined The Seattle Times in encouraging the governor to look East of the Cascades for his choice.
Omigod, omigod! The editorial boards of two Eastern Washington newspapers have urged Governor Inslee to appoint a supreme court justice from Eastern Washington! It’s snowing in Hell! Or something!
(Yawn.)
As I’ve previously written, I don’t really care from what part of the state Justice Johnson’s replacement hails, as long as he or she is the best qualified jurist available. That should be Inslee’s primary concern. Though I’ve no problem with diversity—geographic or otherwise—being used as a tie-breaker.
That said, let’s be clear that Governor Inslee has absolutely nothing political to gain from appointing a justice from the other side of the mountains. Either way, he will not receive a single Eastern Washington daily newspaper editorial board endorsement in 2016, regardless of his Republican opponent. Nor would such an appointment earn him any additional Eastern Washington votes.
Elections have consequences. Had Republican Rob McKenna won the governor’s mansion, you can damn well believe that he would have treated Democratic constituencies like crap. So there’s no real reason to reward Eastern Washington voters with any special favors beyond the billions in tax subsidies we already ship their way.
“Join the misinformed and choke collared by the Blethens writers of The Times’ editorial board in lively discussions at our blog, Opinion Northwest.”
But the Governor should appoint the best person for the job. It is just that more people live in the west. And the higher educated people live on the west side. But it is possible to find a good judge on the eastern side of the state. It is worth looking. After all William O. Douglas came from Eastern Washington (a long time ago).
Inslee is a shoo-in for 2016 anyway. He could appoint DB Cooper to the Court and still win easily.
Well …
IF the latino transgender community had a qualified candidate. wouldn’t we all say that person’s other properties made them a good choice?
Why isn’t being from Eastern Washington an worthwhile criterions? I am lucky enough to be at the UW under Michael Young as President. He is very good but he is also a Mormon and a Republican .. would David rule him out because he has the wron kinds of diversity?
Sometimes the right is right.
First, the Yakima-Herald is owned by the Seattle Times – so citing their “opinion” as justification is another self-serving ST moment. Second, Yakima is in central Washington – not “eastern” Washington.
Sure – go ahead and appoint a liberal jurist with great credentials from the central or eastern part of the state. That will shut up the Seattle Times…
We already have a justice from eastern Washington. Appointing another one would result in that part of the state being over-represented on the court. What’s more, the departing justice isn’t from eastern Washington. He should be replaced by another Olympia lawyer.
Do you think Michael Young should have become UW President on the basis of being Mormon and Republican? Because that’s essentially what those papers are calling for–don’t consider anyone from Western Washington and pick someone from Eastern Washington.
@7 I think the next supreme court justice should be purple, have three eyes, and no gender.
seatackled
what BS
No one is arguing that being from the East is a sole criterion.
Michael Young has many assets, BUT being Mormon and Republican are part of his package. (he is also an expert on trade with Japan, has divorced one wife and married a younger one and rides a Harley.
I suspect there is no unique candidate for the SC job. Each will have a mix of qualities they bring.
On the other hand, don’t you think is is time that the US Supreme Court have a justice who is other Jewish or Catholic? When he gets his choice (of he does) shouldn’t Obama consider appointing someone who is Southern Baptist, wealthy, as well as being trangender?
It’s really a call for a justice who would support right-wing property rights advocates, vote against Indian tribes, and support prosecutors in all criminal cases. And do something about inheritance taxes. I’m going deaf but I can still hear those dog whistles.
“Governor Inslee should open the gate to the pasture and let a wolf in sheep’s clothing in so there’s more diversity amongst the herd.” Nice try, fuckos.
So you guys and gals think Goldmark ought not t obe lands commish cuz he smells of manure>
@12. No. Go read 10.
SJ,
“would David rule him out because he has the wron kinds of diversity?”
That’s an odd thing to ask. What Goldy wrote was:
So…the answer is clearly, no, Goldy would not rule out someone based on geography.
SJ,
“So you guys and gals think Goldmark ought not t obe lands commish cuz he smells of manure”
Certain aspects of his job requires reasonable personal hygiene. If he really showed up to work smelling of shit day in and day out, I would not consider him qualified for the position.
Fortunately, his personal hygiene doesn’t seem to be an issue….
@15 See, that’s it — the big issue. Republicans stink. All of them. All the time. That’s why no Republican should ever be appointed or elected to anything. Because they’re stinkers.
Actually, about 2/9 of the state’s population lives in eastern Washington, so having another justice from over there would balance things out pretty well geographically. If this seat were filled by election, then we would probably elect someone from this side of the mountains in a contest. I think it has been a long time side since an eastern WA candidate won an open Supreme Court seat. Justice Debra Stephens was first put there by appointment. So I think the governor should find someone smart and sensible, and preferably from the other side of the mountains.