Justices’ Ties Spark Tax Lawsuit Scrutiny

A new lawsuit over Washington’s controversial 9.9% income tax is igniting a firestorm over the impartiality of two newly appointed Supreme Court justices, Colleen Melody and Theo Angelis—both with deep ties to Governor Bob Ferguson. Critics question whether their past work, campaign donations, and close professional relationships with the governor create a conflict of interest, especially as the tax’s future hangs in the balance. Neither justice has pledged to recuse themselves if the case reaches the court, saying they’ll decide based on the facts. Meanwhile, the income tax is under siege from a ballot initiative group, and the justices’ election races are heating up, with candidates juggling judicial duties and campaign trails. The governor insists the justices are bound by recusal rules, but public trust remains shaky amid mounting scrutiny over fairness and transparency. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/db77caa8513444b5