The Ballot Brief
Spokane County, Washington

Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 4

Ulrich and Addams are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Spokane County election filings.

About this race

Open seat decided November 3: the court's official roster lists Position 4 as vacant, and this nonpartisan seat drew two filers so it does not appear on the August 4 ballot.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Washington › Spokane County › Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 4

Nicholas Ulrich

Nicholas Ulrich

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Treating every person in the courtroom with respect and dignity
  • Following the law without being swayed by personal preferences

From other published sources

  • Modernizing the court and finding efficiencies in court practices, per the Washington voters' pamphlet statement
Biography

Section chief of the torts division at the Washington Attorney General's Office who has served more than five years as a judge pro tem in Airway Heights Municipal Court and in Spokane County District and Superior courts, per the Washington voters' pamphlet statement. He clerked for the Washington Court of Appeals and spent more than a decade as a litigator, per the same statement, and holds a law degree from the University of Washington plus physics and mathematics degrees from Washington State University.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Michael R Addams

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Consistent, fair accountability aimed at reducing repeat offenses
  • Therapeutic courts that address addiction and mental health while maintaining community safety
  • Reducing case processing delays so resolutions are timely
Biography

A prosecutor for the City of Cheney who has served as a judge and commissioner pro tempore in Spokane County courts, per the Washington voters' pamphlet statement. He is a former director at the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys who teaches undergraduate and graduate law courses at Eastern Washington University and served 24 years in the military, per the same statement, and holds a law degree and an MBA from Gonzaga.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 4 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 4 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nicholas Ulrich and Michael R Addams. Candidate information follows official Spokane County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 4 election in Washington?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Washington are on the Washington election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Spokane County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Spokane County and state election office filings, last verified October 19, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Washington election office, or see the full Spokane County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Spokane County ballot

29 tracked races in Spokane County, Washington. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 3Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 5Spokane County District Court, Judge Position 6See all 29 Spokane County races
Candidate profiles
Nicholas Ulrich, full profileMichael R Addams, full profileOfficial Washington election office