Bellevue voters will see Washington State Supreme Court Position 7 on their Nov. 3 ballots. Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens is seeking to keep the seat she has held since 2008.
The race is nonpartisan.
Todd A. Bloom is also certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.
Stephens said in a Washington State Standard voter guide questionnaire that she wants to continue "building on the work of improving access to justice, making our courts more effective and transparent, and strengthening public trust and confidence in the rule of law through clear, principled decision-making."
Candidate information
Name: Debra L. Stephens
Office sought: Washington State Supreme Court Justice, Position 7
Native of: Spokane, Washington
Education: Bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University (1987); juris doctor from Gonzaga University (1993)
Endorsements (claimed by endorsers): AFL-CIO; Washington Federation of State Employees (AFSCME Council 28); Washington Education Association PAC; Sierra Club's Washington State Chapter; National Women's Political Caucus of Washington; King County Democrats; Spokane County Democrats; Kitsap County Democrats; Jefferson County Democrats; Indivisible Tacoma; Democrats for Diversity and Inclusion; Snohomish & Island County Labor Council; 32nd LD Democrats
Experience and public service
Stephens was the first woman from Eastern Washington to join the state Supreme Court, according to her official biography on the Washington State Courts website. She was appointed as a justice in December 2007, according to Ballotpedia, and has served as chief justice, according to BallotReady profile data.
Before joining the high court, Stephens served as a judge on Division Three of the Court of Appeals, according to BallotReady. She also served on the Orchard Prairie School District Board of Directors in Spokane.
Earlier in her career, Stephens worked as a staff attorney for Judge Fred L. Van Sickle in the United States District Court, practiced as a private attorney starting in 1993 and served as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law. She also co-coordinated the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Foundation Amicus Curiae Committee.
On the issues
The following responses are based on Stephens' answers to the Washington State Standard voter guide questionnaire, condensed for clarity. Statements reflect the candidate's own positions.
Judicial philosophy: Stephens said she approaches the law "with judicial humility and a deep respect for text and structure." She said the court's job is to give constitutional and statutory language its ordinary meaning, or to explain when context requires a specific meaning to carry out the law's purposes. She added that constitutional provisions were written broadly because their drafters understood they were creating a framework for a future they could not fully anticipate. Stephens said she writes opinions that try to explain the reasoning rather than simply announce the conclusion.
Most pressing challenge facing Washington courts: Stephens identified equitable access to justice and modernization as the top challenges. She said technology offers opportunities to streamline court operations but risks widening the digital divide. She said the courts must ensure virtual hearings and electronic resources serve as gateways rather than barriers for rural residents, low-income individuals and self-represented litigants. She also said the courts must work to eliminate systemic bias and racism within the judicial branch.
Adherence to precedent: Stephens called precedent "the bedrock of a stable judicial system." She said society relies on consistent law so individuals, businesses and governments can plan their actions. She added that as a court of last resort, the Supreme Court must recognize that adherence to precedent "cannot blind us to clear errors or changing realities." She said the court will depart from a prior decision if it is clearly demonstrated to be both incorrect and harmful, or if its underpinnings have been eroded.
The Bellevue Beacon did not receive questionnaire responses or campaign materials from Todd A. Bloom for this profile. Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
