Carolyn Dimmick Final PDF.indd - Washington Secretary of State

Dimmick: The way I interpret that is (the debate) over strict constitutional adherence vs.
stretching it to include a lot of things that were never meant to be. One who follows the
law as a strict constructionist is not an activist judge. An activist judge is somebody who
can find reasons to go outside what is commonly accepted.
Hughes: So if you’re opposed to the death penalty you’ll find any kind of subterfuge?
Dimmick: That’s right.
Hughes: Is that an indictment you’d make – that we’ve seen too much activism on the part
of judges?
Dimmick: You know, I don’t really think so. I don’t really think that because I’ve listened
to the issues; I’ve seen it, and I haven’t agreed with some of it, but I see that they’ve got a
point of view. They could be just as right as I am.
Hughes: Here’s a news story from the time of your appointment to the Supreme Court
in 1980. It says, “Dimmick said the courts have gone too far in protecting the rights of
criminals by giving them, ‘Every possible consideration, down to the smallest technicality.’”
Dimmick: I was quoted?
Hughes: Yes.
Dimmick: Hmmmm.
Hughes: This is a piece in The Seattle Times in 1984. Let’s make sure I’ve got the context
right: “Three Washington State judicial conservatives likely will be President Reagan’s
nominees to fill new federal judgeships when the 99 th Congress convenes next year. The
Times has learned the three: State Supreme Court Justice Caroline Dimmick, former but
longtime Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Robert Bryan, and Yakima attorney Alan
McDonald, will be formerly announced at a 2 P.M. press conference today in U.S. Senator
Slade Gorton’s Seattle office. Dimmick’s confirmation would cause a vacancy on the state
Supreme Court, which the governor could fill by appointment. Yesterday Dimmick refused
comment. At the time of the appointment in 1980 Dimmick said the courts had gone too
far in protecting the rights of criminals by giving them every possible consideration, down
to the smallest technicality.”
Dimmick: They must have got me on that day. I think what happened there was that the
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