Raquel Montoya-Lewis
A candidate for Washington State Supreme Court, Position 3, State of Washington in the 2020 Washington General Election, Nov. 3
Party: No party
Age: 56
City: Bellingham, Washington
Education: Bachelor's degree in English from the University of New Mexico in 1992. Law degree from the University of Washington Law School in 1995. Master's degree in social work from the University of Washington in 1996.
Work experience: Whatcom Superior Court Judge from 2014-2019. Associate professor at Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Previously practiced law and served as chief justice of the the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the Lummi Nation.
Political experience: Appointed to Washington Supreme Court in December 2019. Appointed to Whatcom County Superior Court in 2014. Was unopposed in 2015 and 2016 elections to the seat.
Family: Married to Colin. Two teenage children.
Contact information
Race Results
| Candidate | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|
| Raquel Montoya-Lewis (N) | 2,057,623 | 58.45% |
| David Larson | 1,462,764 | 41.55% |
Related Coverage
Lincoln County labor dispute will be appealed to Washington Supreme Court; what does that mean for Spokane?
An appellate ruling last week largely left in place a conflict about whether local governments can required employees to bargain in public. The issue is now headed for the Washington Supreme Court, and the outcome could have ramifications for bargaining in Spokane County and the city of Spokane.
Whitener and Montoya-Lewis easily retain their Washington Supreme Court seats; Staab wins appeals court race
Spokane County voters cast ballots in three contested judicial races in this election. One is for a seat on the state’s Court of Appeals, and two are for seats on the Washington Supreme Court.
Washington Supreme Court says $30 tab initiative is unconstitutional
Don’t expect your license tabs to go down to $30 any time soon. A ballot measure to lower car tab fees and some other taxes for vehicles is unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court said today.
Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis defends seat against Federal Way Judge David Larson
Montoya-Lewis and Larson both said the work of a justice extends beyond just hearing arguments and penning opinions. Montoya-Lewis was appointed to her seat in December and Larson is making his second run for the Supreme Court.
Washington Supreme Court: 5 county commissioner bill is constitutional
OLYMPIA – A law that expands the number of county commissioners in Spokane from three to five is constitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a unanimous decision.
Hundreds become lawyers in Washington state without taking bar exam due to COVID-19 exemption
As a law student at Gonzaga University, Allison Drescher spent three years preparing for the bar examination – two consecutive days of multiple-choice questions and complicated essay prompts that test not only the legal wit of aspiring lawyers but also their mental stamina.
State Supreme Court upholds governor’s limited prison releases
OLYMPIA – A governor has broad powers during an emergency that includes deciding whether to release inmates from prisons and how many should be released, the Washington Supreme Court said Thursday.
Court considers fate of $30 car tabs initiative
OLYMPIA – A ballot measure that reduced most vehicle taxes and fees should be thrown out as misleading because the $30 tabs it promotes won’t exist and it’s guilty of “logrolling” by including more than one topic, attorneys for local governments opposing the proposal told the state Supreme Court Tuesday.
Inslee’s emergency orders within his authority, court commissioner says
Gov. Jay Inslee was within his authority to issue emergency orders in an attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, a state Supreme Court commissioner said Thursday.
Washington Supreme Court tosses drug convictions for man searched by federal agents at Stevens County border crossing
The unanimous panel ruled that federal agents did not provide proper warning before arresting a man returning from a Canadian music festival at the border in August 2017. The case could have implications for how federal law enforcement officers work with local authorities in policing the U.S.-Canada border.