Washington State Judge Refuses to Hear Lawsuit to Block Trump From Ballot

‘There are 39 counties in this state. Filing a separate action in every county could result in I don’t know how many different decisions.’

A day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla. former President Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York on Aug. 9, 2022. David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters

A Washington state judge on Jan. 16 declined to take up a case to remove former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballots, saying the challenge is in the wrong venue.

Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bassett said that the suit needs to be brought in Thurston County, the location of the state capital city of Olympia. That’s also where Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs’ office is located.