King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell, a candidate for Washington State Supreme Court, Position 4, joins me for an in-depth conversation on On The Record.This was my first time interviewing a judge, and I learned quite a bit about how judicial elections work, the ethical rules judges must follow, and why the Washington Supreme Court has such an important role in our everyday lives.We also had a pretty eye-opening conversation about the outside money being spent in his race.In this episode, we discuss:

• Money in judicial elections: O’Donnell discusses the outside spending, political advertisements, and attack mailers targeting his campaign.
• The Public Disclosure Commission: We discuss the PDC’s recent decision to suspend enforcement of certain campaign contribution limits while voting was already underway.
• Judicial independence: What it means for a judge to remain fair and impartial, regardless of political affiliation.
• Republican and Democratic support: O’Donnell explains why he’s received support from across the political spectrum and addresses the controversy surrounding an unsolicited Republican Party recommendation.
• The MAGA accusations: I ask O’Donnell directly about the political labels being used against him, and he responds.
• Judicial ethics: Why candidates for judge cannot simply tell voters how they would rule on issues such as reproductive rights or taxation.
• Artificial intelligence in the courtroom: His concerns about AI-generated legal arguments and the possibility of judges relying on AI to make decisions affecting people’s lives.
• Access to justice: Why legal representation is becoming unaffordable for many Washington families.
• Public safety: His experience as a prosecutor, including his involvement in the Green River Killer case.
• His personal story: The role his family played in encouraging him to run for the Washington Supreme Court.

We also get a straightforward explanation of how Washington’s court system works, what the Supreme Court actually does, and why voters should pay attention to these races.Throughout the interview, O’Donnell offers his perspective on campaign spending, his opponent, and the challenges facing Washington’s courts. Those statements represent his views and should not be taken as independent findings by On The Record™.ABOUT ON THE RECORD™On The Record™ is an independent interview series hosted by Tony Taylor and produced through the Leaders Lead Network.Our goal is simple: Give voters an opportunity to hear directly from candidates, ask meaningful questions, and allow people to make their own decisions.These interviews are not political endorsements.SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNELWe’re interviewing candidates across Washington to help voters better understand the people asking for their votes.If you find these conversations valuable, please subscribe, share the episode, and help us get these interviews in front of more voters.Have a question or something you’d like to add to the discussion? Leave a comment below.Election Day: November 3, 2026#SeanODonnell #WashingtonSupremeCourt #JudicialElections #WashingtonPolitics #OnTheRecord