Judge Hilyer: Richard Sanders Email a Reminder Why Temperament and Ethics are Critical on Supreme Court

SEATTLE— Following an email last week sent by defeated former Justice Richard Sanders previewing a potential run for Supreme Court, Superior Court Judge Bruce Hilyer today warned that a return by Sanders would only give him a soap-box for his extreme ideology, harm the court’s ability to address difficult cases and undermine the respect of the people of Washington.

Sanders, defeated for re-election in 2010 by current Justice Charlie Wiggins, has a history of creating controversy and distraction as a Justice. Most notably Sanders was sanctioned by his peers for visiting with convicted sex offenders on McNeilIsland, refused to recuse himself from a case in which he had an indirect personal financial interest, and his racially charged comments on minority incarceration rates resulted in a rare reversal of endorsement from the Seattle Times.

Hilyer, a former Presiding Judge who is endorsed by almost 100 judges and retied Justices statewide is a leading candidate for the Supreme Court. Hilyer pledges to bring impartiality, an even temperament and commitment to high ethical standards to the bench—in contrast to the erratic behavior and sanctions that characterized Sanders’ tenure.

“We should elect Justices who respect the law, are responsible to the people ofWashington, and serve with integrity,” said Hilyer. “The job of a Justice isn’t to instigate controversy or promote an extreme political agenda—it’s to interpret the laws fairly and faithfully. The job is to set durable precedent, not be a lightening rod to advance personal ideology or political causes.”

In his email, Sanders makes clear why he believes he should run, claiming his lack of past political affiliations compared to Hilyer, who ran for partisan office nearly two decades ago. Yet while asserting his independence, the openly ideological Sanders boasts of his recent participation in an Evergreen Freedom Foundation podcast—a corporate funded conservative think tank that sponsored 2009 rally with former Fox News mouthpiece Glenn Beck.

Sanders’ email, in what is perhaps a sign that he hopes his past supporters—and voters— will forget the loss, begins with the question: “Should I run for re-election to the Court?” [sic] While the message closes by asking the select group of people on his list for their input on whether he should run, Hilyer notes that the voters already participated in a fair, open assessment of his fitness to serve on the state’s highest court.

“The voters of Washington already rejected Sanders’ ethical problems, extreme ideology, and lack of respect for rules and laws he personally dislikes,” said Hilyer, who has received high ratings from a diversity of judicial ratings organizations. “The Court—and the people it serves—have moved beyond the sometimes circus-like atmosphere created by Sanders. This 2012 election should be about building upon the professionalism and experience of the court, not avenging past election defeats.”