Washington

Web 100: Best law blogs

Our inaugural year of the Web 100 list honors 50 blogs (and adds five more to our Blawg 100 Hall of Fame.)

Dec 1, 2017 12:02 AM CST

Law grad with criminal record can sit for state bar, Washington Supreme Court rules

After a Thursday hearing with many questions centered on the substance abuse recovery of Tarra Simmons—a 2017 law school graduate who also has an addiction history, as well as prior theft and drug possession convictions—the Washington Supreme Court ruled that she can sit for the state bar.

Nov 17, 2017 4:46 PM CST

Sexually assaulted woman files civil rights action against city of Houston over rape kit backlog

Houston officials have known about a rape kit testing backlog for years but did not address the problem, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit filed this week. Current and former mayors and police chiefs from Houston are named as defendants, the Houston Chronicle reports. The action (PDF) is seeking…

Sep 27, 2017 5:30 PM CDT

One bit of good news for immigrants in detention

In contrast to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration, one federal protection for immigrants has been quietly expanded in recent months. A growing number of courtrooms are providing free legal representation for detainees who have a serious mental illness or disability. As of March 2017, 21 immigration courts across the…

Jul 10, 2017 2:26 PM CDT

Inmate attacks lawyer at one hearing, struggles with bailiffs at another

A Washington state inmate attacked his own lawyer during a sentencing hearing last Friday and then struggled with four bailiffs in a return court appearance on Wednesday. The inmate, 27-year-old Jose Linares, appeared to resist the bailiffs who escorted him into the Yakima courtroom, report KOMO News and KIMA-TV. Linares…

Jun 15, 2017 2:53 PM CDT

Law student with felony record and Skadden fellowship denied character and fitness recommendation

Tarra Simmons, a third-year law student, convicted felon and former drug addict who in December won a Skadden Fellowship to help people recently released from prison, did not have her character and fitness review approved by the Washington State Bar Association. The character and fitness board’s vote against Simmons’ recommendation…

May 12, 2017 4:27 PM CDT

Microsoft’s new deputy GC will lead efforts on privacy, cybersecurity

Julie Brill, the longtime consumer advocate and former member of the Federal Trade Commission, will join Microsoft Corp. this summer to lead its privacy and regulatory affairs group, Law.com reported Friday. Brill’s title will be Deputy General Counsel for Privacy and Regulatory Affairs, according to a Microsoft corporate blog. She…

May 2, 2017 7:00 AM CDT

When is someone too stoned to drive? The question is trickier than you’d think for courts to answer

There is no clear scientific consensus when it comes to smoking pot and driving. And few of the tools police officers have long relied on to determine whether a driver is too drunk to drive, such as the Breathalyzer, exist for marijuana.

Apr 1, 2017 3:10 AM CDT

Seattle sues over threat to withhold funds from ‘sanctuary cities’

The city of Seattle has sued President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions over their threat to withhold grants to “sanctuary cities.” The federal lawsuit (PDF) argues violation of the Tenth Amendment’s reservation of powers to the states and the Constitution’s spending clause, the Seattle Times reports. The suit…

Mar 30, 2017 3:14 PM CDT

Despite kinks in program, nonlawyers successfully providing some legal services in Washington state

Limited license legal technicians in the state of Washington are succeeding at helping clients who can’t afford a lawyer while staying within their limits as practitioners, a new study has found. Conducted by the American Bar Foundation and the National Center for State Courts with support from the Public Welfare…

Mar 29, 2017 4:45 PM CDT

Washington’s top court rules against Christian florist who wouldn’t provide flowers for gay wedding

A Christian florist did not have a First Amendment right to refuse to provide flowers for a gay wedding, the Washington Supreme Court has ruled. The court on Thursday affirmed a fine and citation imposed against Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene’s Flowers, for her violation of state laws barring discrimination…

Feb 17, 2017 10:05 AM CST

Criticized by Trump for blocking his immigration order, this ‘so-called judge’ is a Bush appointee

The Seattle federal judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration is a Republican appointee who was confirmed to his judgeship in 2004 with no opposition. The judge, 69-year-old James Robart, issued a nationwide temporary restraining order Friday that blocked Trump’s temporary ban on entry into the United…

Feb 6, 2017 10:59 AM CST

Federal appeals court refuses to immediately reinstate Trump’s immigrant travel ban

A federal appeals court on Sunday refused to immediately reinstate President Trump’s executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals acted (PDF) after U.S. District Judge James Robart issued a nationwide temporary restraining…

Feb 6, 2017 8:31 AM CST

Trump fires acting attorney general who won’t defend immigration order; states file litigation

Updated: President Donald Trump on Monday evening fired acting attorney general Sally Yates after she refused to defend his executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven mostly Muslim countries from entering the United States. A White House statement said Yates “has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing…

Jan 31, 2017 8:49 AM CST

Former inmate attends law school, earns a Skadden Fellowship to help other convicts with re-entry

In the spring Tarra Simmons is expected to graduate from Seattle University Law School, less than five years after serving a state prison sentence for drug and theft convictions. In December she was awarded a Skadden Fellowship, and has plans to use the money working with low-income people recently released…

Dec 9, 2016 2:30 PM CST