With Washington State's judicial races wrapped up for the year - complete with a record-setting $4 million price tag - the Yakima Herald wonders whether a public financing option, or similar reform, might stem the tide of special interest money seeking to influence the make up of the state's highest court. Two challengers this year were the benefactors of large "independent expenditures" not regulated by campaign contribution limits -- though the incumbents retained their position, the spike in special interest cash in these judicial contests has drawn increased attention from both media and state legislators who have raised the possiblity of a public financing system in the mold of North Carolina as an alternative solution.