Washington State Supreme Court Justice, Position 4

Judge Ian Birk is running for State Supreme Court Position 4. A fifth-generation Washingtonian, Birk has spent more than 20 years serving Washingtonians as a Supreme Court law clerk, civil litigator, appellate advocate, and judge. He has served on the Washington State Court of Appeals since 2022, where he has authored more than 200 opinions and participated in hundreds of additional decisions involving civil, criminal, family, administrative, and constitutional law. He has also sat in all three divisions of the Court of Appeals in Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane, giving him a statewide perspective on how the law affects communities across Washington. Before joining the bench, Birk was a partner at Keller Rohrback LLP, where he represented individuals, families, and small businesses, often taking on powerful corporate interests in cases involving consumer protection, insurance, workplace discrimination, and other complex civil litigation. He's also volunteered with the King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinics, providing free legal assistance to people who could not afford an attorney, including renters, consumers, and working families facing financial and housing insecurity. Birk’s judicial philosophy centers on an independent and impartial judiciary that applies the law based on the facts, not politics or public pressure. He believes courts should provide equal access to justice regardless of a person’s wealth or background, and that judges have a responsibility to explain their decisions clearly, thoughtfully, and with respect for the real-world impact on families, workers, and communities. His campaign emphasizes fairness, integrity, accountability, and careful adherence to the law, and he is committed to defending public trust in Washington’s courts. Given his commitment to equal access to justice and strong support from our progressive partners, we recommend Ian Birk for State Supreme Court Position 4.

In this election, 5 of the 9 positions are open. We need to maintain a court that reflects the values of WA residents and upholds the law! The GOP and groups like go WA are investing heavily to make this a MAGA court.

This court WILL DECIDE ON-

• MILLIONAIRES TAX
• CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT
• IMMIGRATIONPROTECTIONS
• REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
• ELECTION ADMINISTRATION DISPUTES

Seattle Indivisible is endorsing candidates in the Supreme Court race because it is so important.

Judge Ian Birk currently serves on Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals, trusted to decide complex cases from every corner of Washington. His legal background, from Supreme Court law clerk and trial lawyer to appellate lawyer and judge on each of Washington State’s three Appeals Courts has given him unique insight into how the law is applied in diverse communities. This, combined with his work defending ordinary Washingtonians against powerful corporate interests, has guided his efforts to ensure that the courts remain open and fair to everyone, regardless of wealth, background, or circumstances. He has earned AFT Washington’s endorsement for Position 4 through his efforts to improve Washingtonians’ lives through judicial means. We believe that the Supreme Court should serve the interests of working people, and Judge Birk’s record indicates he agrees. You can learn more about Judge Ian Birk at https://ianbirk.com/

For more than a decade, he volunteered with the King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinics, providing free legal assistance to people who could not afford an attorney. Many of those cases involved renters, consumers, and working families facing immediate financial or housing insecurity.

Position 4. Open seat. Justice Charles Johnson is retiring. Judge Sean O'Donnell of the King County Superior Court is running against Judge Ian Birk of the Court of Appeals. Judge O'Donnell's years handling criminal and family cases as a Superior Court judge bring practical experience with how judicial decisions affect people's lives.