Washington

Washington Supreme Court strikes down state death penalty as racially biased

The Washington Supreme Court has ruled the state’s death penalty violates the state constitution because it is "imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner."

Oct 11, 2018 12:34 PM CDT

9th Circuit reinstates First Amendment challenge to cyberstalking law

A federal appeals court has allowed an activist to pursue his First Amendment challenge to Washington state’s cyberstalking law. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the abstention doctrine does not bar retired Air Force Maj. Richard Lee Rynearson III from pursuing the case, report Courthouse News…

Sep 11, 2018 12:55 PM CDT

Miguel Willis: Bringing law to the last frontier

Miguel Willis is only 29, and he’s already created his own job—twice.

Sep 1, 2018 2:25 AM CDT

Angry parents find little legal recourse when schools put their kids in ‘seclusion rooms’

It’s not a timeout: State laws, school policies and individualized education programs often allow involuntary confinement as a way to calm highly emotional students. Disabled and minority students are disproportionately affected by seclusion policies, which can include isolation and physical restraints.

Jul 1, 2018 1:45 AM CDT

Recovering former convict defies odds, ends ‘long and hard journey’ after being sworn in as a lawyer

A 2017 law school graduate and advocate for the recently incarcerated—who also has a felony record and has been in recovery for more than six years—was sworn in as a member of the Washington State Bar Association on Saturday following a battle with the agency’s character and fitness board. The…

Jun 18, 2018 1:28 PM CDT

People can change, Washington Supreme Court says regarding bar applicant with felony convictions

In explaining a ruling that allowed a law school graduate and Skadden Fellow with a criminal past and in recovery for substance abuse to sit for the state bar, the Washington Supreme Court wrote that “one’s past does not dictate one’s future.” Tarra Simmons, a magna cum laude graduate of…

Apr 6, 2018 2:02 PM CDT

Lawyer accused of shooting at another attorney’s office now faces meth lab charges

A lawyer arrested for allegedly firing several shots at the office of an Oregon attorney is facing new charges stemming from a search of his home in Vancouver, Washington.

Mar 28, 2018 7:30 AM CDT

Lawyer described as a ‘decorated’ sniper is accused of shooting at another attorney’s office

Police have arrested a lawyer who practices in Portland, Oregon, for allegedly firing several shots at the office of another lawyer after an escalating dispute. Police arrested Erik Graeff, 42, of Vancouver, Washington, on charges of unlawful use of a weapon and reckless endangering, report the Oregonian and the Beaverton…

Mar 1, 2018 9:53 AM CST

Computer refurbisher appeals for freedom after trying to prolong lives of PCs

Updated and corrected: Eric Lundgren, an electronics recycling advocate and computer refurbisher from California, faces more than a year in prison for creating tens of thousands of discs meant to prolong the life of a computer. What landed Lundgren in legal trouble was the creation and planned sale of 28,000…

Feb 28, 2018 3:00 PM CST

Some states are welcoming back ex-offenders to work behind bars

In 2010, Cindy Stubbs was nearing the end of a 14-year sentence in a South Carolina prison, determined never to return. A mother of four, locked up on gun and drug trafficking charges since she was 34, Stubbs worked inside the prison translating textbooks to Braille. Three months before her…

Jan 18, 2018 1:25 PM CST

When UPL accusations against lawyer paraprofessionals are just protectionism

Last year, the legal profession continued to protect the delivery of legal services with multiple state bar ethics decisions negatively impacting legal service providers Avvo, LegalZoom, and Rocket Lawyer. As I outlined last time, 80 percent—or 4 in 5 Americans—cannot obtain legal help. In most industries, this would be seen as a massive market opportunity for existing providers.

Jan 12, 2018 8:30 AM CST

Lawyer is accused of demanding $50K, the amount owed in ethics case, during attempted bank robbery

A lawyer in Washington state has been charged with attempted first-degree robbery for an alleged bank holdup that ended when police arrived at the scene. Police say Richard Evan Kriger, 60, was wearing a fake beard, dark glasses, a baseball cap and gloves when he arrived Dec. 13 at the…

Jan 11, 2018 10:18 AM CST

Washington state attorney general sues Motel 6 for handing over customer data to immigration agents

Updated: Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing Motel 6 “for voluntarily providing guest lists to agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” on a routine basis for at least two years, which led to the detention of at least six people presumed to be in the country illegally, according…

Jan 4, 2018 2:55 PM CST

FCC repeals net neutrality rules; at least 2 state AGs plan to challenge

At least two state attorneys general announced they will join a multistate lawsuit challenging Thursday's decision by the Federal Communications Commission to repeal net neutrality rules requiring internet providers to provide equal access to apps and websites.

Dec 14, 2017 1:43 PM CST

The limited license legal technician is the way of the future of law

The first time I heard about the Washington State Bar Association’s Limited License Legal Technician program was when I hosted an Evolve Law event in Seattle in November 2015. I had just moved to the state and I was immediately intrigued by what I heard about the program.

Dec 8, 2017 8:30 AM CST