Five Seats Five Battles | Spokane News

Five Supreme Court seats are on the ballot this November, including a high-stakes race for Position Four between Judge Sean ODonnell and Judge Ian Birk — both promising to make justice more accessible. O’Donnell, a prosecutor with experience in major cases like Gary Ridgway’s, champions practical courtroom expertise and proposes reviving legal technician programs. Birk, an appellate veteran backed by seven current justices, focuses on AI’s growing role in courts and calls for clear judicial guidelines. While endorsements lean toward each candidate — O’Donnell gets GOP support, Birk draws from top Democrats — both warn about rising money and complexity in judicial elections, urging voters to navigate a historic, information-scarce moment. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/sep/15/trial-judge-appellate-judge-battle-for-open-washin/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d4689625baced62e Report issues to [email protected].