State Supreme Court incumbents headed toward re-election

The state Supreme Court justices on the ballot in Tuesday's primary election appeared to have locked up re-election, with all three claiming majorities late in the evening.

Incumbent Justices Mary Fairhurst and Charles Johnson took more than half the vote in their races.

Under state law, judicial candidates who get more than half the vote in the primary advance to the general election unopposed, assuring re-election.

Justice Debra Stephens ran unopposed in the primary, guaranteeing her another term.

Johnson faced a surprisingly tough primary challenge, but with nearly half the votes reported, the court's senior member was leading with a safe majority against Seattle attorney James Beecher. Still, Beecher's showing was impressive considering he reported no campaign contributions.

A third candidate in that race, C.F. "Frank" Vulliet, had a poor showing, running last.

In her campaign, Fairhurst, 50, defeated Mercer Island attorney Michael Bond, in votes reported Tuesday night.

During her campaign, she stressed her efforts to enhance access to justice for low- and moderate-income people.

She collected a wide range of endorsements and crushed Bond in fundraising, taking in more than $191,000 to his $33,000.

Bond, 55, argued that Fairhurst too often sides with the government — and against citizens — in court cases.

Johnson, 57, an 18-year-veteran of the court, ran on his lengthy judicial experience.

He rode a huge fundraising advantage, reporting more than $86,000 in campaign contributions, while his opponents reported none.

Beecher, 68, works in a Seattle law firm. He had been a Seattle city prosecutor and was a trial attorney for the state Attorney General's Office.

Vulliet, 66, a Mercer Island attorney, failed to win any significant endorsements and was suspended from practicing law in Washington because he had not completed his continuing legal education requirements.

Robert Faturechi: 206-464-2393 or rfaturechi@seattletimes.com