King County Judge Sean P. O'Donnell announces run for Washington Supreme Court

O'Donnell has over 25 years of experience as a prosecutor and judge, and has received endorsements from mayors, community leaders, and over 150 judicial officers across the state.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 7:15pm

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Judge Sean P. O'Donnell announced his campaign for Washington State Supreme Court Position 4, a seat currently held by Justice Charles Johnson, who will constitutionally 'age-out' in 2026. O'Donnell has over 25 years of experience as a prosecutor and judge, and currently serves on the King County Superior Court. He has received endorsements from mayors, community leaders, elected officials, prosecutors, attorneys, and over 150 judicial officers at all levels from across Washington State.

Why it matters

The State Supreme Court is the highest court in Washington and is responsible for interpreting the state's constitution and laws. O'Donnell's campaign for this position comes as the current Justice Charles Johnson is set to retire due to the constitutional age limit. O'Donnell's experience and early momentum suggest he could be a strong candidate to fill this important judicial role.

The details

Judge O'Donnell has served on the King County Superior Court since 2013, presiding over criminal trials, civil disputes, and complex family and mental health matters. His peers have elected him to be the President of the Superior Court Judges' Association, and he has received honors such as Outstanding Lawyer of the Year from the King County Bar Association and Judge of the Year from the Washington Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

  • Judge O'Donnell announced his campaign for the Washington State Supreme Court Position 4 in February 2026.
  • Justice Charles Johnson, the current holder of Position 4, will be constitutionally required to retire due to age limits in 2026.

The players

Judge Sean P. O'Donnell

A judge on the King County Superior Court with over 25 years of experience as a prosecutor and judge. He has received endorsements from a wide range of elected officials, community leaders, and judicial officers across Washington State.

Justice Charles Johnson

The current holder of Washington State Supreme Court Position 4, which will become vacant in 2026 when he is required to retire due to constitutional age limits.

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What they’re saying

“Judge O'Donnell has uncommon common sense.”

— Jack Nevin, Ret. U.S. Army Brigadier General and Pierce County Superior Court Judge (ret)

“Judge O'Donnell's knowledge and compassion have spanned across generational lines, making him uniquely qualified to lead the Supreme Court forward to address the new and ever-changing issues the Court will face in the future, while balancing the history and sanctity of the Court as an important institutional bulwark of our State.”

— Natalie de Maar, Owner & Managing Partner, de Maar Law

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This campaign highlights the importance of judicial elections in Washington, as the State Supreme Court plays a critical role in interpreting the state's constitution and laws. O'Donnell's early momentum and broad support from the legal community suggest he could be a strong candidate to fill this upcoming vacancy on the high court.