Washington Supreme Court

Wash. Supreme Court Rejects Legal Fees, Hurdles For Poor

Amy Radil — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:41:52 +0000

Washington’s judicial system abolished court fees for poor people in 2010, but county courts sought ways around the rule. Now in a unanimous decision, the Washington State Supreme Court has reaffirmed that if someone qualifies as indigent, courts need to give them access for free.

Wash. Supreme Court Considers SPD Dash-Cam Video Policy

Liz Jones — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:45:23 +0000

Washington Supreme Court Justices heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case that spotlights the Seattle Police Department’s policy regarding public access to dash-camera video footage. The lawsuit, brought by KOMO News against SPD, comes at a time when the police force faces heightened scrutiny about transparency and public accountability.

King County Wants Derailed Death Penalty Case Back On Track

Amy Radil — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:45:10 +0000

The Washington Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in the case of the Christmas Eve murders of six people in Carnation in 2007.

The central issue in this case is when prosecutors should consider the strength of the evidence against defendants in a capital murder case. The parties differed on whether evidence should be a consideration in deciding to seek the death penalty.

Corporations Are People Too In Identity Theft Law

Phyllis Fletcher — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:03:14 +0000

The Supreme Court of Washington ruled Thursday that a corporation can be a victim of identity theft just like a person can under state law. The law makes it a felony to steal the identity of a “person, living or dead.”

High Court To Seattle Police: “You Had To Be There” For Misdemeanor Arrest

Phyllis Fletcher — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:13:12 +0000

If you’re not a police officer, imagine you are one.

Picture yourself perched on the second floor of a building in Belltown. You see someone selling drugs. You radio a fellow officer on the ground and tell him to arrest a guy on a misdemeanor charge of drug loitering. Your partner searches him and finds crack.

Death Penalty Cases Derailed In King County

Amy Radil — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:00:21 +0000

Both of King County’s death penalty cases are on hold pending appeal to the Washington Supreme Court. A key issue in both cases is whether the defendants have experienced any hardships that should have required prosecutors to be more lenient.

Your Take On The News

Producer — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:00:00 +0000

It's Friday - time to review the news of the week with our panel of journalists: Joni Balter, Eli Sanders and Knute Berger. The state Supreme Court ruled against the two-thirds requirement to raise taxes, Mayor Mike McGinn and City Attorney Pete Holmes sparred over police reforms, and the state DOT admitted design flaws in building the new 520 floating bridge. What stories caught your attention this week? Call us at 800.289.5869, email weekday@kuow.org or send us a message on Twitter: @weekdaykuow.

Washington High Court Finds Spit-Covered Burger Could Cause Emotional Distress

Amy Radil — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:25:56 +0000

“Under Washington law, is a consumer entitled to emotional distress damages when a fast-food employee spits in his or her hamburger even though the consumer did not eat the hamburger?” The Washington Supreme Court said Thursday that the answer may be yes.