This Giving Tuesday, help ensure voters have the information they need to make confident, informed decisions. Donate now!
Elizabeth Berns
Elizabeth Berns is a judge for Department 25 of the King County Superior Court in Washington. Her current term ends on January 9, 2029.
Berns won re-election for the Department 25 judge of the King County Superior Court in Washington outright in the primary on August 6, 2024, after the primary and general election were canceled.
Education
Berns received her undergraduate degree from University of Washington and her J.D. from the University of Puget Sound School of Law.[1]
Career
Before serving on the King Superior Court, Berns was a Judge Pro Tem for King County District Court and Pro Tem Commissioner in King County Superior Court. She also practiced with the Law Office of Elizabeth J. Berns, P.S.[1]
Awards and associations
Associations
- Volunteer Legal Advisor, University of Washington’s Business and Economic Development Program, Small Business Administration, and University of Washington’s Estate Planning Counsel
- Vice-Chair, Washington State Bar Association Q-Law Judicial Evaluation Committee
- Co-Chair, American Chemical Society’s Division of Chemistry and the Law[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in King County, Washington (2024)
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Elizabeth Berns (Nonpartisan) won the election without appearing on the ballot.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Berns in this election.
2020
See also: Municipal elections in King County, Washington (2020)
General election
The general election was canceled. Elizabeth Berns (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
2016
Washington held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. Candidates for district and superior court seats had to file for election by May 20, 2016. Primary elections were held on August 2, 2016, for six seats where more than two candidates filed for election.
Berns won re-election without appearing on a ballot in 2016 because no challengers emerged by the May 2016 filing deadline.[2] In counties with a population that is greater than 100,000, if only one superior court candidate files for election for a judgeship, that candidate is automatically elected and the county does not hold a general election for the seat. According to the 2010 census, the following counties have a population greater than 100,000:[3]
2012
Berns was elected to the court in the primary election, winning 51.24 percent of the vote.[4][5]
- See also: Washington judicial elections, 2012
King County Bar Association rating
- Was rated as Not Qualified by the King County Bar Association in 2012[6]
Criticism of evaluation process
Berns has been vocal with her criticism of the bar association interview process for evaluating candidates. She has publicly stated that the commission mixed up materials used several times, causing her to question the validity of the process.
In an email, one of Berns' supporters, former Washington Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland said,
| “ | I am dumbfounded to see how KCBA could have given Elizabeth Berns a 'not qualified. I am left with the impression that something is seriously broken in the KCBA judicial evaluation process. [7][8] | ” |
Endorsements
Berns was endorsed by The Seattle Times. To read the recommendation, see: The Seattle Times, "The Times recommends...," from July 24, 2012.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Elizabeth Berns did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Elizabeth Berns did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Campaign Website Bio
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2016 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 21, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Washington: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013," accessed July 24, 2014
- ↑ King County Primary Election Results
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Election Candidates," accessed December 24, 2014
- ↑ King County Bar Association, 2012 Judicial Election Ratings
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "Questions raised about latest 'not qualified' rating from King County bar," July 19, 2012
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Washington, Western District of Washington
State courts:
Washington Supreme Court • Washington Court of Appeals • Washington Superior Court • Washington District Courts • Washington Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Washington • Washington judicial elections • Judicial selection in Washington
