Washington State Supreme Court

Law & Courts

Washington Supreme Court says pandemic eviction ban was legal. Landlords beg to differ

In a 5-4 decision Thursday, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Jay Inslee did not exceed his emergency powers in his decision to extend the ban on evictions for 18 months during the Covid-19 pandemic. The court said the eviction moratorium helped keep 790,000 Washingtonians housed during the pandemic. Landlords say the high court decision has a devastating impact on their bottom line.

Once again, Washington lawmakers sue Inslee over vetoes

For the second time, Washington lawmakers are suing Gov. Jay Inslee over his use of the veto pen. In a lawsuit filed Monday in Thurston County Superior Court, the Legislature asserts Inslee exceeded his veto power earlier this year when he line-item vetoed parts of the state transportation budget and eliminated a subsection of a low carbon fuels bill.

Conservation groups want Washington forests managed ‘for all the people’

At a Supreme Court hearing, conservation groups argued Washington forest managers should log fewer trees.

Frustrated by delayed jobless benefits, laid off workers turn to state Supreme Court

Frustration with long delays in getting jobless benefits is boiling over into a lawsuit against the Washington State Employment Security Department....

Inslee appoints first Black woman judge to serve on WA Supreme Court

For only the second time in Washington history, a Black justice will serve on the Washington Supreme Court. On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Pierce...