Scott Edwards Launches Washington Supreme Court Bid

The legal veteran challenges for Position No. 1 with a platform focused on restoring judicial constitutionalism.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Elections

Scott Edwards Launches Washington Supreme Court Bid

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Scott Edwards has officially entered the race for Position No. 1 on the Washington State Supreme Court. The longtime legal educator aims to shift the court's focus back to constitutional principles.

Why it matters

Edwards claims that the current court has allowed political preferences to override objective legal analysis. He seeks to restore public trust in the judiciary by emphasizing a return to foundational constitutional interpretation.

Scott Edwards holds over 30 years of legal experience and has taught at the University of Washington School of Law for more than 20 years. He has previously argued more than a dozen cases before the state's highest court.

The players

Scott Edwards

Scott Edwards is an attorney and longtime law professor at the University of Washington School of Law who is running for Position No. 1 on the Washington State Supreme Court.

The details

Edwards argues that the court currently prioritizes political outcomes over legal analysis, pointing to a recent 6-3 ruling that struck down a natural gas initiative as evidence. His campaign seeks to replace judicial reliance on personal ideology with strict constitutional scrutiny.

October 2026: Scott Edwards discussed his candidacy on The Ari Hoffman Show on KVI.

Political Context

The challenge highlights a growing divide between those who believe the state judiciary is acting too legislatively and those who support the court's current trajectory. Opponents of Edwards may argue that the court is appropriately interpreting modern statutes within a changing societal framework.

As voters consider this race, they should note that most judicial seats in Washington are often filled via gubernatorial appointment when judges vacate their positions early. This candidacy provides voters an opportunity to influence the composition of the court during the next election cycle.

The takeaway

Edwards stresses that his decades of teaching and litigating in the state provide the necessary experience to reform judicial operations. Voters interested in the court's balance should monitor how his platform impacts upcoming discussions on judicial philosophy.