Judges & courts

Seattle Municipal Court Judge

Position 5

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: Municipal court judges hear misdemeanors, traffic infractions and city ordinance violations in Seattle.

Candidates Compare by issue

Gabe Rothstein

No party listed

Public Defender; Judge Pro Tem

The gist

Supports release decisions based on risk, not ability to pay.
Supports treatment alongside accountability.
Pledges that everyone in court is heard.

More about Gabe

View sources (2)

Supports release decisions based on risk, not ability to pay.
Gabe Rothstein for Seattle Municipal Court
Campaign website · Gabe Rothstein for Judge · gabeforjudge.com
“whether somebody is likely to come back to court, and whether they pose a danger. Not whether they have sufficient resources to afford bail.”
Supports treatment alongside accountability.
Gabe Rothstein for Seattle Municipal Court
Campaign website · Gabe Rothstein for Judge · gabeforjudge.com
“Gabe understands that accountability and treatment are not opposing ideas.”
Pledges that everyone in court is heard.
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“Seattle Municipal Court is the people's court, and everyone deserves to be listened to and heard.”

Garmon Newsom

No party listed

Seattle Municipal Court Pro Tem Judge; former City Attorney

The gist

Supports judicial restraint and applying the law as written.
Supports offering defendants diversion, services and treatment.
Pledges pragmatic outcomes that build trust and public safety.

More about Garmon

View sources (2)

Supports judicial restraint and applying the law as written.
Judicial Philosophy
Campaign website · Newsom for Judge · newsomforjudge.com
“The judge’s role is not to make policy but to apply law fairly, leaving policy changes to the elected branches.”
Supports offering defendants diversion, services and treatment.
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“I am focused on protecting the community while providing defendants with the opportunity for diversion, services, treatment, and support.”
Pledges pragmatic outcomes that build trust and public safety.
Candidate statement, Online Voters' Guide, November 3, 2026 General Election
Provided by the campaign · Washington Secretary of State (statement written by the candidate) · voter.votewa.gov
“I will deliver fair, pragmatic, and equitable outcomes that build trust and public safety.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 1 issue covered in this race.