This is wrong! A Political Action Committee (PAC) called Citizens for Judicial Excellence (CJE) has turned against incumbent King County District Judge Kentu Shah. WHY? He is an honorable man, has done a fine and fair job with his rulings, has been endorsed for reelection by many of his peers, including the entire bench of the State Supreme Court, and has received high ratings from local bar associations. The CJE praised Judge Shah’s qualifications when he was appointed in 2013. Unlike Judge Shah, his opponent, Sarah Hayne, has limited courtroom experience and has refused to have her qualifications vetted by the local bar associations so the public can objectively compare the two candidates. Why the switch of support by the PAC (formed to supposedly promote judicial excellence), which previously praised Judge Shah?
First, Sarah Hayne is the wife of Stephen Hayne, who co-founded the PAC-CJE. If these citizens for judicial excellence are serious, why won’t their favored candidate have her qualifications vetted by her peers—the bar associations? This does not pass the “smell test” and is wrong. Some members of CJE had enough integrity to quit the group. Second, the PAC is financed by the members who are DUI defense attorneys—-they want judges who are sympathetic and apparently believe Judge Shah has not shown enough compassion for their clients. They believe Judge Shah’s interpretation of the Legal Maxim “Let him who sins while drunk be punished while sober” has been “disappointing.” I think an organization called “Citizens for Judicial Excellence” that is made up of DUI defense attorneys who seek to influence judicial elections to “their point of view” is an oxymoron. You be the judge. (end)
— Lynn Stowell, Bellevue