Media Release

May 22, 2026

Contact:  Sandeep Kaushik, (206) 355-9230

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Washington State Supreme Court Candidate Judge Sean O’Donnell Receives Wave of Major Endorsements

 

SEATTLE – King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell, who is running for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4, today announced a recently expanded list of major endorsements from respected leaders and organizations across Washington State. 

 

O’Donnell’s endorsements highlight the breadth and diversity of his support, demonstrating that he is receiving backing from elected leaders across the political spectrum and from organizations representing a wide array of constituencies. O’Donnell’s supporters are drawn to his reputation as a deeply experienced and impartial jurist dedicated to handling all cases that come before him with intelligence, fairness, and with a sensitivity to the human impacts of his decisions.

 

Fresh endorsements for O’Donnell include leading Democratic U.S. Representatives Marilyn Strickland and Adam Smith, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown, former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Tukwila City Councilmember Jane Ho.

 

“Along with being a deeply experienced judge with a well-earned reputation for applying the law fairly and accurately in tough, high profile cases, Judge O’Donnell is one of the most respected legal minds in Washington State. He has my enthusiastic support,” Smith says. 

 

Judge O’Donnell has also earned the support of Justice G. Helen Whitener, who leads the Washington State Supreme Court’ Minority and Justice Commission.  Justice Whitener praised his leadership on working to ensure fair and equal treatment under the law for all Washington State residents. 

 

“Judge Sean O’Donnell is a perfect fit for the Supreme Court. He quietly stands up for the voiceless. In 2017 as Superior Court Judges Association (SCJA) president, Judge O’Donnell requested a presentation to the SCJA on the Color of Justice program I held at my court. That presentation resulted in the SCJA voting to fund at least three programs twice a year for the state courts. I support him because he doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk,” Justice Whitener says.

 

Other recent endorsers of Judge O’Donnell include organizations like the Washington Farm Bureau, the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, and the Washington Retail Association. 

 

 Judge O’Donnell has earned the support of elected leaders from across the political spectrum, including dozens of prominent Democrats and progressives like former Governor Chris Gregoire, Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, King County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Rod Dembowski, Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth, former Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, former Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, public safety reformer Lisa Daugaard, retired Judge Anne Levinson and many others. King County Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Pete von Reichbauer are also among Judge O’Donnell’s supporters.

 

“I am proud of my hard-earned reputation for judicial independence and impartiality. My deepest commitment is to follow the law without fear, favor or agenda,” O’Donnell says. “Judicial races are non-partisan for a reason. I believe my broad range of endorsements stand as ‘Exhibit A’ to my impartiality, and set me apart in this race.”

 

Judge O’Donnell is rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the King County Bar Association, the Washington State Veterans Bar Association, the Cardozo Society of Washington State (the official WA State Bar Association minority bar for Jewish lawyers), and the King County Corrections Guild. He has served on the King County Superior Court bench since 2013, is a past president of the Superior Court Judges’ Association, and previously spent a dozen years as a prosecutor, including serving on the Green River Task Force that brought serial killer Gary Ridgway to justice, and as a Special Assistant US Attorney for the US Department of Justice’s Terrorism and Violent Crimes Division.  He currently leads King County Superior Court’s mental health speciality court at Harborview Medical Center.

 

His wife Shelley is a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in autism.  He has a college-aged son and a daughter in high school.

 

 

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