Meet Mary Anderson, a Judicial Candidate in Snohomish County, WA

Mary Anderson is running as a non-partisan candidate for Snohomish County Superior Court Judge, Position 12 in Washington State. As an independent, GoodParty.org Certified candidate, Anderson is committed to serving her district with equity and fairness.

GoodParty.org spoke with Anderson about her judicial campaign, experience, and vision for the judicial system in Snohomish County, Washington.

Mary Anderson: An Experienced Attorney for Snohomish County

Anderson has diverse experience, having owned and operated multiple small businesses before becoming a trial attorney. She owned and operated a construction firm and then a mortgage brokerage firm before opening her current law firm. Anderson also has 15 years of experience as a licensed realtor. This experience helped her transition into building a successful real estate law practice.

Anderson cited her drive for continued learning as one of the main factors behind her career shifts.

“I learn very quickly, and when I learn something, I don't want to be complacent, because I believe if you have the skillset and the ability to do something else, you should. You shouldn't just stop where you're at because it's easy,” Anderson said. “The construction company was successful. I learned the ins and outs of construction, both in the residential and commercial arenas, and the bookkeeping aspect and taxes. Then I thought to myself, ‘Okay, that's great, so I want to do something else.’ Then I went into mortgages. I started off as a loan processor, and I worked my way up to owning my own mortgage or brokerage firm.”

After operating her mortgage brokerage firm, Anderson decided to attend law school. She graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2011 and went on to establish her own firm, Guidance to Justice Law Firm, PLLC.

Since then, Anderson has presided over 1,700 cases in Snohomish County District Courts as a Judge Pro Tempore, including both criminal and civil cases. She has also gained federal trial experience and argued twice before the Washington State Supreme Court. Anderson first argued before the State Supreme Court when she was only a few years out of law school.

“The Supreme Court accepted my case on direct review two years out of law school, and I argued it in my third year out of law school. I argued before our State Supreme Court, and my client and I won a 9-0 opinion,” Anderson said.

Altogether, Anderson said her wide range of entrepreneurial and judicial experience has prepared her well to serve Snohomish County as judge.

“I have a diverse background with diverse experiences. I understand the insights and the insides of a construction firm, a mortgage broker firm, and now a law firm, and that will really help inform my decisions moving forward as the next Snohomish County Superior Court Judge,” she said.

Running an Unapologetically Non-Partisan Judicial Campaign

Anderson first ran for a judicial position in 2023, when she competed for Snohomish County Superior Court Judge, Position 17. During that election, Anderson ran for judge against incumbent candidate Patrick Moriarty, who was appointed by Washington Governor Jay Inslee in June 2022. Anderson’s campaign had the endorsement of both the Snohomish County Republican Party and the Snohomish County Democratic Committee.

Though Anderson had the more varied resume of the two candidates, Moriarty won the election by a slim majority. Moriarty earned 89,262 votes (54.39% of the vote), compared to Anderson’s total of 74,095 votes (45.15% of the vote).

“I had launched my campaign less than 60 days before the primary,” Anderson said. “In my campaign, we got through the primary, and then in the general, we narrowly lost. It was really surprising to me, because I connected with so many people and I couldn't quite understand how we weren't successful in the general.”

Anderson said she later learned that members of the local Democratic Party had been conducting a political smear campaign against her candidacy. The smear campaign included attempts to rescind Anderson’s endorsements and spread misinformation about her on social media.

“I'm highly educated, I know my stuff, and I've been a trial attorney for 14 years. So I didn't quite understand why these individuals that purport to be about diversity, equity, and inclusion would do this to me. It was heartbreaking for me,” Anderson said.

This experience led Anderson to decide not to accept endorsements from any political parties during her next judicial campaign.

“I said to myself, ‘I'm not going to allow individuals to misrepresent, misinform, and speak outright lies about me. I'm going to get back up and fight.’ That's why I decided that I will not go into any political arena and request endorsements from any partisan individuals, even though I’m able to as a judicial candidate under our judicial canons,” Anderson said. 

In her current run for Snohomish County Superior Court Judge, Position 12, Anderson is committed to running an unapologetically non-partisan campaign. On November 5, 2024, Anderson will compete on the ballot against another of the governor’s recent appointees, Judge Whitney M. Rivera.

Anderson said she is still facing pushback from members of the Democratic Party in the area. However, she said she is grateful for the challenge because it has only made her stronger.

“I think I'm feeling the pushback because I am who I am. I am unapologetically me. I am fair. I am honest. I have integrity,” Anderson said. “Individuals know it, they see it, and they can't stand it because I'm incorruptible. I'm not bought. I'm not beholden to anyone other than the voters and the people.

“It is us, we the people, who hold all the power. We just need to stand up and say, ‘You know what? We're not going to allow these two establishments to tell us who we need to vote for. We're not going to allow these elected officials to tell us who we need to vote for. We have a brain for ourselves. We are independent thinkers.’ So let's start being independent thinkers and vote for the best person. 

“If I'm the best person, great. If I'm not, great. But just don't mislead the voters and put your thumb on our democracy because you believe I may not be the best person for the position. Let the voters decide. Let's look at the merits — my merits, her merits — and pick the best person.”

Anderson said her decision to seek endorsements from both the Republican and Democratic parties contributed to the amount of pushback she experienced.

“Both parties were up in arms because I was endorsed by both parties, which was strange to me because I'm running for a judgeship, and judges should be completely non-partisan and impartial,” Anderson said. “I let people know that I don't care what your background is, I don't care where you're from, I don't care who you love, I don't care what you look like. I don't care if you're Black, White, Asian, Latina. It doesn't matter. What matters is that we’ve got to get judges in there that will do the right thing, even when it's hard. That's who I am. That's what I represent, and that's what I'll be moving forward, because I am beholden to no one other than the people who vote me in.”

Anderson emphasized that she is running for office to serve the people of Snohomish County, not for any political quid pro quo. 

“I will not bow down to the powers that be because they say so. It's us, we the people, that hold all the power. We the people can change the landscape of this nation and Snohomish County. We just have to believe it, and I believe it. That's why I'm running. I believe in the people,” Anderson said.

Fighting for Fairness and Transparency in the Judicial System

Anderson said she has learned that voters across the political spectrum simply want a fair judiciary.

“Everyone wants the same thing. They just want to be treated fairly,” she said. “It doesn't matter if you have a D behind your name, it doesn't matter if you have an R behind your name, and it doesn't matter if you have an I behind your name. What matters is we want a fair judiciary. That is it. I am so thankful that I have elected not to go to any partisan group. I'm not just talking about the Democrats or the Republicans; I will not seek endorsements from any partisan group, because I truly want the people to know I am here for the people — because as the judiciary, I'm rooted in public safety, fairness, and the Constitution. That's what I represent.”

Anderson has a number of plans for how Washington’s judicial system can become fairer and more transparent. One of her ideas is to make it more accessible for the average citizen to serve on a jury.

“We don't believe we're going to get a fair shot when we go into the court,” Anderson said. “One of the reasons why people don't believe they're going to get a fair shot is because the jury pool is not representative of an accused or defendant's peers.”

Currently, jurors in Washington State can receive between $10 and $25 per day as compensation for serving on a jury. Most counties in the state only pay jurors $10 per day. It is also up to the individual jurors to arrange for childcare, if needed, and employers are not required to pay jurors while they serve on a jury.

Anderson explained that for the average person, these rules make serving jury duty an unaffordable option.

“As it stands right now, we have big-corporation employees that are able to sit on the jury, because their corporation pays their wage to do their civic duty. Other people want to do their civic duty, but they don't have the resources. They can't do it. They can't afford it,” she said.

Anderson’s plan is to increase the amount of compensation jurors receive for serving on a jury, so that jury duty is more accessible. Without these changes, it can be difficult for a defendant’s case to be heard by a true jury of their peers.

Anderson also plans to increase the level of transparency in the judicial process by making all of her judicial rulings and opinions publicly available.

“I believe the judiciary should be a little bit more educational to the litigants that come before us, to ensure that they know why they won or lost and they’re not scratching their head and saying, ‘I don't really agree with that judge,” Anderson said. “Instead of saying, ‘I don't agree with that judge,’ what if the judge actually writes the opinion/ruling to give the legal analysis, to let the litigants that come before us know what the issue was before us, and so that way they're better learned on why they won or lost?”

Keeping the Judicial System Fair and Non-Partisan

In addition to fighting for reforms that directly benefit defendants, Anderson is also passionate about preserving the non-partisan nature of judicial elections. She said she has learned that she is not the first candidate to face political attacks from the Democratic and Republican parties in her area.

“When I was campaigning last year, I learned that this happened to another White woman and this happened to another Latina woman. So this isn't brand new to me. This is their playbook,” Anderson said. “I'm going to call out their playbook. This will never happen to another woman again, ever, because I’m calling them out.”

Anderson noted that the kind of pushback and attacks she faced are part of the reason why good candidates often refrain from running for office.

“That's why good people don't run — because what they did to me, they wanted to bury me,” Anderson said. “They wanted to absolutely bury me. If it wasn't for my fortitude and my will to rise back up, they would have. But I say I'm unbreakable. Because when bullies do this to you, I say, ‘No, you're not going to bully me. I'm going to come back and I'm going to fight harder.’

“I will always do the right thing, even when it's hard. I will take a bullet for someone, to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.”

A Passion to Serve Snohomish County, Washington

Anderson has lived in Snohomish County for over 40 years. After growing up in the county and attending school there from elementary school through college, Anderson is ready to give back to her community and make a real difference.

Her past and current community service is a testament to her passion for serving her community.

“I'm a big proponent of giving back to my community. I believe that everyone should have access to justice, even if they don't have the financial resources to do so,” Anderson said. 

Since 2015, Anderson has been recognized by the Washington State Bar Association for her pro bono work. She volunteers at the Snohomish County Legal Clinic as a volunteer attorney, is a founding board member for the Northwest Consumer Law Center, and sits on the board of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s local youth leadership program. She is also in the process of launching a youth mock trial team, so she can pass on her experience to the next generation.

“I like to live by three principles,” Anderson said. “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. When you learn, then teach. And when you know better, do better. That all stems from Maya Angelou, the greatest poet that I know.”

Anderson said another reason she is passionate about serving as judge is because once elected, she will be the first Black female judge in the history of Snohomish County. Because of this historic victory, Anderson will be able to provide a previously unrepresented perspective to the county’s judicial system.

“When I tell you that there has never been a Black female judge in Snohomish County, I'm talking about since its inception, since 1861 — not on the municipal court level, the district court level, the superior court level, or the court of appeals level from Snohomish County,” Anderson said. “I want to be able to be that voice to allow people to see what they can't see, to educate even my benchmates on certain things that they have a blind spot on.”

Anderson emphasized the importance of the judicial system considering diverse perspectives.

“It really boils down to diversity of thought, which is a good thing. We shouldn't want to keep the same old, same old status quo,” she said. “If we just keep the same old, same old status quo, how in the world are we going to move our nation forward? How in the world are we going to move Snohomish County forward? In order to move us forward, we have to have individuals that think differently that we can actually learn from. That is why I'm so passionate to serve Snohomish County.”

Yet another reason Anderson said voters should know she is passionate about serving her community is because she does not have to run for judge. She could easily continue her legal career without running for office, but she is instead choosing to stand up for her community.

“I am a successful trial attorney. I'm turning down business to run. I turned down business last year, and I'm turning down business this year because I believe that we really need someone in there that is not beholden to anyone and that will serve the people of Snohomish County,” Anderson said.

“Just because I put on a robe, I'm not better than anyone else. Because the last time I checked, it is the judges that serve the people, not the other way around. So judges need to start serving the people. That's why I'm so passionate to serve Snohomish County as their next judge.”

How You Can Get Involved

There are a number of ways you can get involved, both with Anderson’s campaign and the larger independent movement.

Are you local to Snohomish County? Visit Anderson’s campaign website here, and explore opportunities to volunteer in support of her campaign. You can also prepare for the general election on November 5, 2024 by registering to vote and making your plan to head to the polls on election day.

Join GoodParty.org’s growing volunteer network to support Anderson and other non-partisan candidates running for office across the country. You can get started by exploring volunteer opportunities in our Discord community, or by booking a meeting with our team to talk one-on-one about how you can get involved.

Another powerful way to make an impact is to consider running for office as an independent or non-partisan candidate in your community. GoodParty.org offers free and low-cost campaign tools and support, which you can start exploring right away. Book a free demo with our team to learn more about how you can launch your campaign for local office.