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SJR8207 • 2026

Supreme court appointments

Concerning senate confirmation of gubernatorial appointments to fill vacancies on the supreme court.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Gildon, Senator Holy
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
S Law & Justice
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Supreme court appointments

Supreme court appointments

What This Bill Does

  • Supreme court appointments

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 Senate

    First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

Official Summary Text

Supreme court appointments

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1
STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:2
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the 3
secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state 4
for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to 5
Article IV of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a 6
new section to read as follows: 7
Article IV, section 3 (b) APPOINTMENTS BY GOVERNOR TO SUPREME 8
COURT— CONFIRMATION. Any appointment by the governor to the supreme 9
court, is subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the senate. 10
If the senate is not in session at the time of the appointment, the 11
appointee shall serve on an interim basis until the senate can 12
convene for confirmation, but no longer than 30 days after the next 13
session begins. Failure of the senate to confirm the appointment 14
renders the appointment void, and the governor shall nominate a new 15
candidate for confirmation. 16
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause 17
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four 18
times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every 19
legal newspaper in the state. 20
--- END ---
S-3755.1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8207
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Gildon and Holy
Prefiled 01/07/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Law & Justice.
p. 1 SJR 8207