We All Agree
These Are The Five Candidates
We Trust For Supreme Court
Colleen Melody
Position No. 1
Justice Colleen Melody has fought and defeated Donald Trump’s frequent attacks on the rule of law. Born and raised in Spokane County, Justice Melody worked her way through college and then worked to help LGBTQ+ immigrants fleeing violence from their home countries. She attended law school at the University of Washington, becoming the first recipient of the Gates Public Service Law Scholarship. Justice Melody has dedicated her career to protecting and defending civil rights, first at the U.S. Department of Justice and then as the first Chief of the Civil Rights Division in the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Appointed to the Washington Supreme Court in 2025, she has been endorsed by all current members of the Washington Supreme Court and by judges, elected leaders, and advocates of justice throughout the state.
Jaime Michelle Hawk
Position No. 3
Judge Jaime Michelle Hawk has more than 20 years of experience as a civil rights attorney, federal public defender, and Superior Court judge. The first person in her family to attend college, Judge Hawk has committed her career to working hard and standing up for those who need someone to fight for them. As an attorney with the ACLU, she defended people unjustly arrested by ICE. As a judge, she is committed to ensuring that her courtroom is fair for everyone, including those without wealth or power. Her judicial record says it all: Judge Hawk has presided over hundreds of cases and has never been overturned by any appellate court for legal error. She brings the commitment to justice for all that we need in Washington.
Ian Birk
Position No. 4
We strongly recommend Ian Birk. Judge Birk spent more than two decades representing regular folks against powerful entities, including the insurance industry and corporations. Judge Birk has been a Court of Appeals judge since 2022, where he has authored more than 200 judicial opinions. He is a fifth-generation Washingtonian. His commitment to fairness and justice for everyone in our courts makes him the right person to join our state's highest court during these critical times. Judge Birk is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Washington State Labor Council, Sierra Club, Washington Housing Alliance, and the vast majority of Democratic Party organizations throughout the state.
Theo Angelis
Position No. 5
Justice Theo Angelis fights for those who struggle to access justice. Appointed to the Washington Supreme Court in March 2026, Justice Angelis is a respected appellate advocate, legal scholar, and public interest lawyer who has litigated complex constitutional and intellectual property matters while also representing asylum seekers and vulnerable communities. The first-ever justice of middle eastern descent on the Washington Supreme Court, he received the ACLU’s Humanitarian Award for his dedication to civil rights. Justice Angelis earned his law degree from Yale Law School and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit before working at K&L Gates for over 25 years. Justice Angelis has been endorsed by all current members of the Washington Supreme Court, as well as judges and elected leaders throughout the state.
Debra L. Stephens
Position No. 7
Justice Debra Stephens has served on the Washington Supreme Court since 2008 and is currently the Chief Justice – her second time serving in this position. Justice Stephens is a Spokane native, where she attended college and raised her children. She brings decades of experience as an attorney and Supreme Court Justice. Before becoming a judge, she argued cases more than 125 times before the Washington State Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
No candidate authorized this ad. Paid for by BEWARE the Attack on Our Courts, 401 Second Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104. Top 5 Contributors: New Direction PAC, Washington Federation of State Employees, Washington Education Association PAC, Stritmatter Law, SEIU 775 Quality Care Committee. Top 3 Donors to PAC Contributors: SEIU 775, Washington Education Association, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.