2024 Washington General Election

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North Carolina

Ballotpedia, Sheryl McCloud

Sheryl holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a law degree from the University of Southern California School of Law. 

Sheryl previously served as Counsel to Governor James A. Smith, Jr. and worked as a public defender and appellate lawyer. She also worked as an adjunct professor at Seattle University School of Law. She is a founding member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association.

Sheryl Gordon McCloud currently serves as a judge in Position 9 of the Washington Supreme Court. She was first elected in 2012 and is serving her second term. She serves as co-chair of the Court’s Gender & Justice Commission. 

As a state supreme court justice for 11 years, decides which cases the court will grant review of, evaluates questions of constitutional law, wrongful imprisonment cases, capital felonies, election contests, and the state’s use of the death penalty. The justice ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly, allows certain cases to be retried, and provides final interpretations of state law.

As a public defender, provided legal counsel and representation to juveniles and criminal defendants who were unable to hire an attorney.

As an appellate attorney, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients.

Serves as the Court's liaison to the Washington State Bar's Council on Public Defense.

- As a state supreme court justice for 11 years, decides which cases the court will grant review of, evaluates questions of constitutional law, wrongful imprisonment cases, capital felonies, election contests, and the state’s use of the death penalty. The justice ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly, allows certain cases to be retried, and provides final interpretations of state law.
- As a public defender, provided legal counsel and representation to juveniles and criminal defendants who were unable to hire an attorney.
- As an appellate attorney, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients.
- Serves as the Court's liaison to the Washington State Bar's Council on Public Defense.

Legal Experience

Believes "constitutional rights matter" and is committed to protecting constitutional and civil rights.

Holds protecting constitutional rights as her primary focus as a member of the Supreme Court. 

- Holds protecting constitutional rights as her primary focus as a member of the Supreme Court. 

Judicial Philosophy

As a state supreme court justice, authored the decision in State v. Arlene’s Flowers, which found that Washington’s Law Against Discrimination protects the rights of a gay couple to purchase flowers from a publicly accessible florist, regardless of the florist’s religious beliefs.

As a state supreme court justice, authored the decision in State v. Arlene’s Flowers, which protects the rights of gay couples to purchase items from stores open to the public, regardless of the beliefs of any store employee.

- As a state supreme court justice, authored the decision in State v. Arlene’s Flowers, which protects the rights of gay couples to purchase items from stores open to the public, regardless of the beliefs of any store employee.

Judicial Administration

As of October 7, 2024, Sheryl Gordon McCloud’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Washington Supreme Court Justice

Candidates (1)