Visit Recent Arguments for past oral arguments, and Upcoming Arguments for future oral arguments.
If you can’t find a case on our website, it’s because we’re still updating our database. In the meantime, here are some useful links to the Washington Courts website:
In re Pers. Restraint of Lain
Synopsis: Whether the governor’s power under RCW 9.95.160 to “cancel or revoke” an offender’s probation authorizes the governor to overrule a decision of the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board granting probation, and if so, whether the offender is entitled to due process protections.
King County Public Hospital No. 2 v. Washington State Department of Health
Argument: Thursday, March 21st, 2013 9:00am
Docket No. 87574-0 (from Court of Appeals Division I Case No. 66304-6)
Docket No. 87574-0 (from Court of Appeals Division I Case No. 66304-6)
Synopsis: Whether the Department of Health properly issued a certificate of need in settlement of an adjudicative hearing on the validity of the department’s original decision denying a certificate, and whether in doing so it properly relied on data collected after the original decision.
In re Sanai, Attorney at Law
Synopsis: Sanai was disbarred following a disciplinary process; did this process violate Sanai's constitutional rights?
State v. Vasquez
Argument: Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 1:30pm
Docket No. 87282-1 (from Court of Appeals Division III Case No. 29540-1)
Docket No. 87282-1 (from Court of Appeals Division III Case No. 29540-1)
Synopsis: Whether a defendant’s possession of forged documents without evidence that the defendant used the documents for any purpose supports an inference of intent to defraud sufficient to convict the defendant of forgery.
Wilkinson v. Chiwawa Communities Association
Synopsis: Whether a homeowners association properly amended its covenants to prohibit the short-term rental of homes in light of existing covenants limiting use to single family residences and prohibiting commercial use of properties.
State v. Johnson
Argument: Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 9:00am
Docket No. 86885-9 (from Court of Appeals Division II Case No. 42461-4)
Docket No. 86885-9 (from Court of Appeals Division II Case No. 42461-4)
Synopsis: Johnson appealed his conviction for driving while license suspended in the third degree (DWLS), claiming that the DWLS law does not criminalize driving with a license suspended for failing to pay traffic fines. He also argued that the State could not constitutionally suspend his license because of his indigence. Finally, he contended that the State must pay the costs of his appeal.
In re Wickersham, Attorney at Law
Synopsis: The court reviews findings of misconduct against an attorney and decides whether to impose a three-year suspension.
Jafar v. Webb
Argument: Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 1:30pm
Docket No. 87009-8 (from Snohomish Case No. 12-3-00284-5)
Docket No. 87009-8 (from Snohomish Case No. 12-3-00284-5)
Synopsis: Whether a superior court, upon finding a litigant indigent in connection with an application to waive filing fees and surcharges under General Rule 34, must waive all fees and surcharges or may grant a partial waiver.
In re Pers. Restraint of Gomez
Argument: Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 10:00am
Docket No. 86711-9 (from Court of Appeals Division III Case No. 29030-1)
Docket No. 86711-9 (from Court of Appeals Division III Case No. 29030-1)
Synopsis: Whether the defendant in a prosecution for homicide by abuse and first degree manslaughter was deprived of effective assistance of counsel due to counsel’s inexperience, mishandling of expert testimony, and lack of preparation and administrative support.
Brown v. MHN Government Services, Inc.
Synopsis: Whether a mandatory arbitration clause in a contract between social service professionals and a corporation that provides social and counseling services to members of the military is unconscionable.