Justice Barbara Madsen of the Washington Supreme Court, a Renton native and the first woman ever to be popularly elected to the Court, has announced her retirement effective April 3, 2026. Her service on the bench dates back to 1993, and she served two terms as Chief Justice from 2010 to 2017 — making her the second‑longest‑serving justice in state history 

In a letter to Governor Bob Ferguson, Madsen wrote that though her commitment to the rule of law remains strong, she believes it is “time to pass the gavel, making way for new ideas and the next generation of great judges” 

Governor Ferguson responded with gratitude for Madsen’s decades of public service, and has initiated a selection process to name her replacement by April 3. Applications are open, with materials due by Thursday, February 26 

Madsen’s retirement comes amid significant turnover on the state’s highest court. In late 2025, Justice Mary Yu retired and was replaced by civil‑rights attorney Colleen Melody, who was sworn in on January 21, 2026 

Justice Raquel Montoya‑Lewis, the first Native American elected statewide to the Court, has announced she will not seek reelection and will step down at the end of her term on December 31, 2026. Meanwhile, Associate Chief Justice Charles W. Johnson is due to retire at the end of the year upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 

These departures mean that by early 2027, three of the nine Supreme Court seats will be occupied by appointees rather than justices originally elected by voters, marking a shift in how the bench’s future composition will be determined 

Why This Matters Locally

For communities across Southwest Washington—including Cowlitz County, Longview, and Kelso—these changes signal a consequential moment for state judicial policymaking. The governor’s appointments, subsequently validated by election, effectively shape the judiciary in ways that affect access to justice, interpretive leanings in jurisprudence, and the overall dynamic of the Court. Civic engagement in upcoming Supreme Court races will be crucial.