Facts: Washington Revised Code §3.34.060 and §3.50.040 permit non-lawyers to serve as judges in district courts in misdemeanor cases in districts with populations of less than 10,000. Respondent Gary Robert Young was charged with violating a municipal ordinance in the district court of the town of Republic before a non-lawyer judge as permitted by statute due to the population of the judicial district in which Republic is located. Read more…
Synopsis: Are certain sex offenders entitled to legal counsel during hearings where the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board decides whether to release the offenders after serving their minimum term?
Synopsis: May respondent challenge her involuntary commitment on the basis of the Washington constitution’s open courts requirement if she failed to request open proceedings at trial? Is MPR 1.3, mandating closure of all involuntary commitment proceedings, constitutional?
