Wash. High Court Refuses Prosecutors’ Motion to Toss Defeated Justice from Cases
The Washington Supreme Court has rejected a request by prosecutors who said defeated Justice Richard Sanders should not have received a temporary appointment to wrap up work on cases heard while he was on the court.
Prosecutors from five counties had argued that the Constitution only allows sitting or retired judges to receive temporary appointments, and Sanders doesn’t qualify because he was defeated by voters, the Associated Press reports.
Sanders received a 60-day temporary appointment when his term expired last month. Since then he has twice joined 5-4 majorities in overturning convictions.
He told AP that prosecutors objected to the appointment because they don’t like his views. “My defeat from the court has emboldened them,” Sanders said. “They think they’re going to take over the show, I guess.”
The Herald also has coverage of the issue.
Hat tip to How Appealing.
Prior coverage of Sanders:
ABAJournal.com: “Wash. State Justices’ Remarks About Black Criminals, ‘Poverty Pimps’ Stun Audience”
ABAJournal.com: “Wash. Justice Now Admits ‘Tyrant’ Outburst During Mukasey Speech
