BILL REQ. #:  H-1509.1 

     AN ACT Relating to the constitutional free speech rights of judges and judicial candidates; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature recognizes the right of free speech, especially political speech, as guaranteed under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, section 5 of the Washington state Constitution and that this right extends as fully and equally to judges and judicial candidates of our state as it does to all other candidates for public office in this state.
     The legislature further recognizes that judges and judicial candidates may and should choose to exercise these rights in order to better inform the public as to their judicial philosophy, their knowledge and understanding of the history, intent, purpose, and text of the federal and state Constitutions and other law in order to educate the people on a wide range of legal issues important to those who have a civic obligation to become better informed when choosing those judges and judicial candidates they wish to elect or retain.
     The legislature hereby declares its belief that judges and judicial candidates have a fundamental right to freely express and incorporate their beliefs and opinions in any statements made regarding any campaign or potential campaign for judicial office or any issue pertaining thereto without legal or professional retribution or other negative consequence, penalty, or sanction to the standing, evaluation, or privilege of the judge or the judicial candidate.