Washington State Supreme Court · Position 7
Karim Merchant
Justice for the People
Justice rooted in the Constitution,Grounded in the People
Watch
Hear From Karim
Get to know Karim Merchant — why he's running for the Washington Supreme Court, and what a judiciary faithful to the Constitution means for every Washingtonian.
Civics
Learn Washington Law
Short, plain-language explainers on Washington's Constitution, its courts, and how our government is meant to work — in Karim's own words.
Meet Karim
Meet Karim Merchant
Born in Ohio to working-class immigrant parents and raised in Washington since 1987, I learned the values of faith, hard work, and service from an early age.
Those values led me to a career fighting for the underdog, defending constitutional rights, and working to ensure that the promises contained in our Constitution remain meaningful for every Washingtonian.
Karim's Vision
Karim's Vision
I am running because I believe the Constitution establishes a government that derives its authority from the People. Our courts play a vital role in preserving that promise by ensuring that every branch of government operates within the limits set by law.
At a time when many Washingtonians feel disconnected from public institutions, I believe the judiciary must remain independent, principled, and faithful to the Constitution. My goal is to help strengthen public confidence in our courts and ensure that justice is administered fairly, consistently, and according to the rule of law.
The Constitution
Washington's Constitution Matters
Washington has its own Constitution — a separate charter of government adopted by the People of this state. These are the principles at its core.
Most people are familiar with the United States Constitution, but fewer realize that Washington has its own — a separate charter adopted by the People of this state. It establishes the structure of government, protects individual liberties, and reflects the principle that all government authority ultimately comes from the People themselves.
Article I, Section 1
The People's Sovereignty
Political power belongs to the People. Government exists because the People created it — and every branch, including the judiciary, derives its authority from the framework they established.
- Government is established to protect and maintain individual rights.
- All just powers come from the consent of the governed.
- The courts must operate within the limits the People set.
“All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”
— Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 1
Article I, Section 5
The Right to Free Speech
The freedom to speak, write, publish, and debate lies at the heart of self-government.
- Protects open participation in public discourse.
- Safeguards the exchange of ideas through which the People govern themselves.
- Holds each person responsible for the abuse of that right.
“Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right.”
— Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 5
Article I, Section 7
The Right to Privacy
Washington's Constitution contains one of the strongest privacy protections in the nation — expressly protecting an individual's private affairs.
- Reaches beyond the federal focus on unreasonable searches and seizures.
- Protects the home and personal affairs from invasion without authority of law.
- Generations of Washington courts have safeguarded privacy, dignity, and autonomy.
“No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs, or his home invaded, without authority of law.”
— Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 7
Article I, Section 24
The Right to Bear Arms
Washington's Constitution expressly protects the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of self and state.
- Recognizes individual liberty and personal responsibility.
- Affirms self-defense as a component of a free society.
“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.”
— Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 24
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