This bill creates new statutory law and amends RCW 2.04.100 to reorganize selection of Washington Supreme Court justices by establishing nine supreme court judicial districts, each of which will elect one justice. It adds new sections to chapter 2.04 RCW, defines the county composition of each of the nine districts, and requires that each justice be a resident of the judicial district they represent for at least one year at the time of election or appointment and remain a resident for the duration of the term. The bill changes gubernatorial appointment procedure for vacancies by requiring appointees to be residents of the district where the vacancy occurs; appointees serve until the next succeeding general election, and the elected justice then serves the remainder of the unexpired term. The bill prescribes that after the first district-based election justices serve six-year terms beginning the second Monday in January following election. For the initial district-based election, which is to occur at the first general election after the section’s effective date, the bill requires the nine justices elected to be classified by lot into three groups of three justices each with initial terms of two, four, and six years; the lots are to be drawn at the seat of government on the second Monday in January following that election and certified and filed with the secretary of state the same day. The act is contingent and takes effect January 1, 2026 only if a proposed amendment to Article IV, section 3 of the state Constitution (House Joint Resolution No. (H-1231/25)) is validly submitted to and approved and ratified by voters at the next general election; if that amendment is not approved, the act is void. The bill references the constitutional amendment but the text of that amendment and details about its ballot submission or timing are not included here, and the bill text does not explicitly identify which specific justices are to draw the lots.

If enacted, Washington would move to nine geographic Supreme Court seats and require each justice to live in the district they represent for at least a year before election or appointment and for the whole term. That will narrow who can run or be appointed, likely forcing some current or prospective justices to relocate or be ineligible, and it will change appointment practice by limiting the governor’s pool to district residents. The first district-based election will stagger terms by lot so only some seats turn over quickly, the secretary of state will handle certification of that lot drawing, and this new system only takes effect January 1, 2026 if voters approve a related constitutional amendment; otherwise the whole act is void. The groups most affected are sitting and prospective justices (who may face residency or relocation pressures), the governor (who has fewer appointment options and may face more local political pressure), the secretary of state (extra certification duties), and voters in the listed counties (who will elect district-based justices). The bill does not change courtroom funding or operations directly, but it could increase campaign activity and local political influence in judicial races; important implementation details about the companion constitutional amendment and exactly which justices draw lots are not provided, leaving some operational questions open.