Law And Courts

Law & Courts

‘Therapeutic’ courts could see influx under Washington's next drug law

Lawmakers in Olympia are mapping out changes to Washington state’s drug possession law. It could emphasize “diversion” programs designed to help people avoid jail and criminal records. Drug courts or “therapeutic” courts could be one route for these cases.

Week in Review: Capital gains tax, Sound Transit construction, and landlords

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with Axios Melissa Santos, Seattle Times Jonathan Martin, and KUOW’s Dyer Oxley.

Law & Courts

Federal court rules Seattle landlords can ask about criminal history

A federal court has struck down half of Seattle's Fair Chance Housing Ordinance, which prohibits landlords from asking about prospective tenants’ criminal history.

Law & Courts

Amid ACLU lawsuit, King County officials say Seattle jail will eventually need to be replaced

King County officials concede that its jail in downtown Seattle will need to be replaced eventually because it’s not meeting today’s needs of prisoners.

Government

Claim alleges Garfield County Jail failed to detect suicide for 18 hours

The family of a man who took his own life in a Garfield County Jail last April has filed an $8.5 million tort claim over his death.

SPU trustees ask judge to dismiss LGBTQ hiring lawsuit

Today four members of Seattle Pacific University's board of trustees asked a judge to throw out the case against them.

Crime

Bill to loosen some restrictions on WA police vehicle pursuits clears House committee

A bill that would change the state's controversial law limiting police vehicle pursuits cleared a key House committee in Olympia Thursday.

Crime

Police pursuit debate in WA Legislature involves dueling data sets

The state legislature is debating changes to a law restricting pursuits by police vehicles. But the debate has become a war of words -- and numbers. Advocates say the current law has led to fewer deaths. Critics say other lives may have been lost as a result of those constraints.

Legalizing jaywalking to reduce enforcement inequities considered at Washington statehouse

Racial and social justice advocates asked Washington legislators Wednesday to repeal laws against jaywalking. However, a bill to do that generated lots of skeptical questions during a state House committee hearing and its prospects are unclear.

Law & Courts

With rulings against racial bias, WA Supreme Court starts 'hard discussions'

Over the past five years, the Washington Supreme Court has issued a series of rulings aimed at combating a fraught problem within the legal system — implicit racial bias. The court has relied on a new legal test: whether an “objective observer” could see racial bias as a factor in who gets to serve on juries, who gets convicted — and who wins in court.