Washington State Supreme Court

The Washington Supreme Court released one opinion today, in State v. Harris. When Harris was 17 years old, he killed an acquaintance. After lengthy plea negotiations, he pled to a lesser offense than charged and the trial court sentenced him to the standard range sentence he and the state jointly recommended.?The trial court did not consider whether Harris’s youth was a mitigating factor that justified a downward departure from the standard range.? Before his judgment and sentence was final, the court announced State v. Houston-Sconiers, 188 Wn.2d 1, 391 P.3d 409 (2017). In Houston-Sconiers, the court held that courts sentencing juveniles have the obligation to consider the mitigating qualities of youth and the power to make a downward departure from the typically-mandatory standard range sentences when sentencing someone for a crime committed as a juvenile.?Based on that case, Harris sought resentencing. A divided court concluded Harris was not entitled to resentencing. The opinions are available at https://lnkd.in/gENtdiQV.?

As part of its ongoing work, the Washington State Disability Justice Task Force has?launched a new website?and is preparing to launch a comprehensive survey in December that will provide valuable insights into these challenges and help guide future recommendations throughout Washington State Courts. The website will serve as a central hub for individuals to access resources, updates on the task force’s work, and the survey itself. It will be an important platform for engaging with courts, legal professionals and individuals with disabilities. More information, and a link to the website, is available here: https://lnkd.in/g3FKjqfM

On Friday, the Washington Supreme Court hosted a Washington Courts Historical Society Symposium. Our thanks to the organizers and presenters.

The Interbranch Advisory Committee will meet today at 9:30. The committee will discuss budget and policy priorities, among other things. The meeting will be archived and live streamed at https://lnkd.in/daFvbdr2.

The law library will be closed on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th for Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day. We will reopen on Monday, December 2nd at 9:00 am. [Image: Text appears within a black border. Fall leaves are placed at the upper left and lower right of the image. Text from top to bottom reads: We will be closed November 28th and 20th for Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day.]

The Washington Supreme Court released one opinion today in State v. Richards.?Richards was convicted of having a dangerous dog at large after she left her dog free in her yard.?She was sentenced to 364 days in jail, which would be suspended if she surrendered her dog to be euthanized.?The Supreme Court concluded that the district court did not have the authority to impose that condition under the relevant county code and that the county had not followed the state law requirements to trigger the forfeiture under state law.?The opinion is available at https://lnkd.in/gJkDXxcM.?

The Washington Supreme court will hear three cases today. At 9:00, the court will hear Housing Authority of King County v. Angela Knight This case asks whether the federal CARES Act requires 30 days’ notice for all evictions or only for nonpayment of rent.?Oral argument will be live streamed and archived at https://lnkd.in/gQ_UraXM. At about 9:50, the court will hear Cockrum v. C.H. Murphy/Clark-Ullman, Inc. This case concerns an exception to employer immunity under the Industrial Insurance Act.?Employers are generally immune for workplace injuries suffered by their employees unless the employer deliberately intended to injure their employees.?The court must decide whether Cockrum presented sufficient evidence of such a deliberate intent to overcome that immunity.?Oral argument will be livestreamed and archived at https://lnkd.in/gRF5WMye. At 1:30, the court will hear two consolidated cases, State v. JMH and State v. AMW.?This case asks whether a court rule that limits when juvenile arrest warrants can be issued is constitutional. Oral argument will be livestreamed and archived at https://lnkd.in/gP6duMC8.?

Washington’s Supreme Court Justices will be celebrating their long-awaited return to Capitol Campus and the reopening of the Temple of Justice with a reception on Nov. 22 running from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public, including members from all branches of Washington government. There will be light refreshments available and brief remarks made by the Chief Justice. The court returned to the Temple of Justice on Oct. 28 upon completion of a two-year, $33.8 million renovation of the 112-year-old building. Learn more in our press release:

Join the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts TOMORROW for our second virtual info session as we gear up for the launch of the Hope Card Protection Order Program in Washington State! Don’t miss out—register today and help us spread the word far and wide! ???

The Washington Supreme Court will hear three cases today.?The first, at 9:00 a.m., is State v. Lewis.?This case asks whether convictions from foreign countries count as “out-of-state” convictions for a defendant’s offender score. ?Oral argument will be live streamed and archived at https://lnkd.in/gBRU3XUC. The second case, at about 9:50 a.m., is M.R. v. State.?This case concerns the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse that continued into the person’s adulthood. Oral argument will be live streamed and archived at https://lnkd.in/gBRU3XUC. The third case, at 1:30 p.m., is State v. Nelson.?The trial court imposed random drug and alcohol testing on Nelson as a condition of his community custody. This case asks whether Nelson’s challenge to that random testing is ripe and, if so, if the conditions are constitutional.?Oral argument twill be live streamed and archived at https://lnkd.in/gBRU3XUC.??