Scott Edwards says Washington Supreme Court should 'interpret laws as written'

Scott Edwards, a candidate for Washington State Supreme Court Position 1, said the central issue in this year’s race is fidelity to the law. “I'm running for the Supreme Court because I'm concerned about the, the rule of law,” Edwards said, arguing the court should apply statutes and the state constitution as written.

Edwards told the interviewer that the court’s role is to determine what the law is, not to rewrite it, and that policy belongs to the legislature while the executive enforces the law. “The role of a Supreme Court justice is to interpret the constitution and laws as they're written,” he said, calling that approach a restraint on other branches of government and citing John Marshall and Marbury v. Madison as historical touchstones.

Edwards’ remarks framed his candidacy around judicial restraint and textual interpretation, saying voters should expect justices to avoid policy-making from the bench. He emphasized that past decisions, in his view, have drifted from those principles and suggested his election would restore that approach.

Edwards did not offer a detailed sentencing or case-management agenda during the interview; his focus remained on judicial philosophy and the broader role of the court.