You'll recall this editorial by Richard Guy and Charlie Wiggins on the possibility of public financing for judicial elections in Washington State as an antidote to rising campaign costs and increasing concern over judicial impartiality. Their concerns are well-founded as this article indicates - Washington State is on pace to break a record for spending on judicial races. The large amount of money invested in judicial races this year by independent groups has been of particular concern as the need for an independent judiciary comes up against a partisan campaign atmosphere, as Jesse Rutledge of Justice at Stake confirms: "interest groups are getting more involved in trying to elect 'their' candidates."