Bellevue voters will find just one name next to Court of Appeals Judge Position No. 6 on their Nov. 3 ballots: Bill A. Bowman.

Bowman, the acting chief judge of the Washington Court of Appeals, Division 1, is running unopposed for a full term in the seat, according to King County Elections filings. The position covers District 1, which includes all of King County.

Court of Appeals judges hear appeals from trial courts in King County and other western Washington counties, according to the Daily UW's voter guide. A second Division 1 appeals court seat on the ballot, Position No. 5, is also uncontested, with David S. Mann as the sole candidate.

Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Bowman to the appeals court in January 2020, according to his official biography on the Washington State Courts website. Before that appointment, Bowman served as a trial judge on King County Superior Court for more than eight years. He presided over criminal, civil, family law and dependency trials.

On the Superior Court, Bowman held several leadership posts. He served as assistant presiding judge, chief judge of the Maleng Regional Justice Center, assistant chief criminal judge and chief civil judge, as first reported by Emerald City Wire.

Bowman started his judicial career as the presiding judge of Black Diamond Municipal Court. Before taking the bench, he worked as a public defender, a deputy prosecuting attorney and a trial lawyer in private practice for nearly 20 years, according to his state courts biography.

He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and a law degree from California Western School of Law. His biography also notes work in civics education and mentoring, and he is an affiliate trial advocacy professor at the University of Washington School of Law.

The 2026 Washington State Court Directory lists Bowman as acting chief judge of Division 1, which is based at One Union Square in Seattle.

How to vote

Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 3, or returned to a drop box by 8 p.m. that day. No stamp is needed. Voters can also register or update their registration in person at voting centers through 8 p.m. on Election Day.