Ferguson's Court Picks Dodge Income Tax Recusal Questions

Two Washington Supreme Court justices appointed by Gov. Bob Ferguson — neither of whom had prior judicial experience — declined to commit to recusing themselves from a looming lawsuit challenging the state's new 9.9% income tax on incomes above $1 million. Justices Colleen Melody and Theo Angelis have financial and professional ties to Ferguson, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, the Attorney General's Office, and K&L Gates — the same firm where Angelis spent 25 years. Ferguson's office deflected repeated questions about whether those relationships raise appearance-of-fairness concerns. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/income-tax-lawsuit-spotlights-gov-fergusons-supreme-court-appointees/ #WashingtonSupremeCourt #IncomeTax #JudicialIndependence #BobFerguson #TheoAngelis #ColleenMelody #WashingtonPolitics #TCSWashington ---