Bill Bowman is running for Washington’s Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Position 6, in the November 3, 2026, general election. King County Elections lists him as the sole candidate in this nonpartisan race.

Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Bowman to the appeals court in January 2020, according to Washington State Courts. He previously served as Black Diamond Municipal Court’s presiding judge and spent more than eight years on King County Superior Court. His trial work there covered criminal, civil, family-law and dependency cases.

Bowman held several Superior Court leadership roles, including assistant presiding judge and chief judge of the Maleng Regional Justice Center. He also chaired the court’s budget and technology committees.

His official biography describes work in civic education and mentoring, teaching trial advocacy at the University of Washington School of Law, and past service as dean of the Washington State Judicial College. Before becoming a judge, he worked in public defense, prosecution and private practice.

Bowman holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a law degree from California Western School of Law.

Sources: King County Elections, 2026 general-election candidate list (https://info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/Vote/contests/candidates.aspx?eid=55); Washington State Courts, Bill Bowman biography (https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/bios/?fa=atc_bios.display&folderid=div1&fileID=bowman).

Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.