Scott Edwards, a tax attorney, adjunct professor and partner at Ballard Spahr, is running for Washington State Supreme Court Justice Position 1 in the Nov. 3 general election. The nonpartisan race is for the rest of an unexpired term. Colleen Melody is also running.

Asked why he is running, Edwards said in our questionnaire: "I'm running because Washingtonians deserve a Supreme Court justice who will follow the law—not pursue a political agenda. For 30 years, I've watched our Court increasingly substitute policy preferences for principled legal analysis. The Court's job is to interpret the law as written, not to legislate from the bench."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: Edwards said in our questionnaire: "The position is non-partisan, and the Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits candidates from publicly identifying with a political party. What I can tell you is this: I believe justices should interpret the law as written, in accordance with the constitution—not advance any political agenda."

Education: Edwards said in our questionnaire: "I was the only person from Alaska in my class at Princeton, where I graduated magna cum laude in Economics with the Paul Volcker Award. I also met my wife, Christine, there. My mom said, 'You're going to meet a girl from New York and not come back to Alaska.' She was right. I earned my law degree with honors from the University of Washington School of Law—and I've been proud to teach there for over two decades."

BallotReady lists a bachelor's degree in economics from Princeton University in 1988 and a JD from the University of Washington in 1991.

Family: Edwards said in our questionnaire: "My wife Christine and I have been married 36 years. We have three children—all born here in Washington—and a granddaughter who's about to turn two. My sister and brother also live in Washington. We're spread across King, Kitsap, and Clark counties."

Family in government: Edwards said in our questionnaire: "Public service runs in my family. My father served as Attorney General for Alaska and later as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska. I grew up watching him put the law and the public interest ahead of politics—and that's the example I intend to follow."

Experience and public service

Edwards said in our questionnaire: "For over 30 years, I've represented Washington taxpayers—individuals and businesses—before our state's courts and administrative agencies. I've built a career at leading law firms including Bogle & Gates, Perkins Coie, and Lane Powell (now Ballard Spahr), during which I've served on the firm's board of directors and advancement committee."

He added: "I've also taught State and Local Tax in the University of Washington School of Law's LLM program for over 20 years—training the next generation of lawyers in the same rigorous legal analysis our Supreme Court should demand."

Edwards served as a board member of the Western Washington Chapters of the American Red Cross from 2006 to 2015, according to his campaign website.

Previous elected office: Edwards said in our questionnaire: "This is my first time running for elected office." This is his first campaign.

Endorsement: The Washington State Republican Party voted by a two-thirds supermajority to recommend Edwards for Position 1 ahead of the Aug. 4 primary, according to the party.

On the issues

Judicial philosophy and qualifications: Asked what accomplishments show he can handle the job, Edwards said in our questionnaire: "The Washington Supreme Court only takes cases that matter—issues of substantial public importance, including constitutional questions that affect every Washingtonian. The job requires interpreting the law as written and applying the constitution faithfully, without letting personal or political views tip the scales … I've argued more than a dozen cases before the Washington Supreme Court. I know the Court, I know the work, and I'm ready to serve."

Differences from opponent: Edwards said in our questionnaire: "Experience and independence. I've spent over 30 years doing exactly what a Supreme Court justice needs to do: interpreting the law as written, applying the constitution, and setting aside personal or political views to get it right."

Best advice: Edwards said in our questionnaire: "My father told me: 'The law isn't just a profession—it's a public trust. Your job is to get it right.'"