Got this when I asked to look into how these court of appeals judges historically leaned in judicial matters.
These are the Pierce County District Court candidates from your ballot (Positions 1–6). All of the races listed are nonpartisan and most of the candidates are unopposed incumbents. Leanings are inferred from professional backgrounds, career paths (prosecutor vs. defense/plaintiff), appointments, and public involvement rather than party labels.
Here’s a summary based on available records:
Kevin A. McCann (Position No. 1) — Leans conservative / law-and-order.
Long career (about 17 years) as a Pierce County deputy prosecutor, including supervising the felony drug and property units and handling major cases (e.g., post-Lakewood police officers murder prosecutions). Appointed to the bench by the County Council in 2013 after a strong prosecutor track record. Also has extensive pro-tem experience.
Claire Sussman (Position No. 2; “Russian” appears to refer to her) — Leans moderate to conservative / law-and-order.
Former deputy prosecutor (about 6 years) before private practice, then elected in 2010. She is the current Presiding Judge of Pierce County District Court. Background is primarily prosecution-side before the bench.
Lizanne Padula (Position No. 3) — Mixed / moderate, with a stronger defense orientation.
Early career included time as a deputy prosecutor (including domestic violence work) and a brief reserve police officer role, but she then spent many years in private practice as a criminal defense attorney before being elected in 2018. She has done pro-bono work and is noted for both prosecution and defense experience.
Neil Horibe (Position No. 4; closest match for “Tories”) — Leans conservative / law-and-order.
Spent over a decade as a Pierce County deputy prosecutor handling serious felonies (murder, trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence). Also served as a volunteer reserve police officer. Currently an Industrial Appeals Judge and District Court pro tem; endorsed by the retiring judge and several sitting judges. Rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association.
Dwayne Christopher (Position No. 5) — Leans progressive / plaintiff- and equity-oriented.
Background as a judicial assistant, then insurance defense, followed by private practice representing plaintiffs in personal injury and employment discrimination cases (including a successful Washington Supreme Court disability discrimination case). Received a “Service to Diversity” award from the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association; involved in mentoring and community programs. Appointed to the District Court in 2022.
Karl Williams (Position No. 6) — Leans progressive / equity-focused.
Long private practice career (civil work and some criminal defense) with extensive pro-tem judging before election in 2018. Serves as Co-Chair of the Equity and Social Justice Committee on the court. Involved with the Minority Bar Association, Black Collective, and related community groups; has emphasized broader experience beyond pure prosecution.
Overall pattern on this part of the ballot: Several of the longer-serving or prosecutor-background judges (McCann, Sussman, Horibe) track more toward traditional law-and-order approaches. Padula is more mixed. Christopher and Williams show clearer progressive signals through plaintiff’s-side work, diversity/equity roles, and related community involvement. These are relative assessments within a nonpartisan local judicial context—actual case-by-case rulings can vary.
