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Posts for Courts and Criminal Justice System

2026 Legislation Addressing Individual Protections at Work, in Public Records, and in Public Safety

July 14, 2026  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Public Records Act ,  Law Enforcement ,  Personnel Policies ,  Recruitment and Hiring ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Bills from the 2026 legislative session included several that increased protections for individuals in their interactions with employers, public agencies, and officials, from pregnant and post-partum employees on the job to transgender and intersex individuals in jail settings.

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Public Defense Standards Are Changing: Selecting and Contracting for Public Defense Services

March 9, 2026  by  Drew T. Pollom
Category:  Guest Author ,  Courts and Criminal Justice System

In 2024, the State Bar Association adopted revised standards related to public defense services. A 2025 Supreme Court interim order also addressed these standards. Since the standards now differ, how should a local government contract for public defense services?

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Public Defense Standards Are Changing: Part 2

August 28, 2025  by  Oskar Rey ,  Drew T. Pollom
Category:  Guest Author ,  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

In 2024, the Washington State Bar Association adopted revised standards related to caseload limits and other elements of public defense service. A recent state supreme court interim order impacts these standards. What do local governments need to know moving forward?

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A gavel sitting on top of a stack of legal documents

Public Defense Standards Are Changing: What Counties and Cities Need to Know

May 6, 2024  by  Oskar Rey ,  Drew T. Pollom
Category:  Guest Author ,  Courts and Criminal Justice System

The Washington State Bar Association recently adopted revised standards that provide case load limits and other requirements related to public defense services. What are these new standards and what do local agencies need to know to be prepared for the change?

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Two people ride bikes through a park

Recapping the November 2023 Local Ballot Measure Results

December 13, 2023  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Housing ,  Emergency Medical Services ,  Fire Protection ,  Homelessness ,  Law Enforcement ,  Ballot Measures

There were a 113 ballot measures before voters this past November, in an off-year election that drew record-low voter turnouts. How did that impact levy lid lifts requests, newly proposed districts, or citizen's initiatives? 

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2022 Court Legislation Impacting Local Governments

September 19, 2022  by  Sarah Doar
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  New Legislation and Regulations

A few bills from the 2022 Regular Legislative Session deal with courts in a manner that will impact local governments, including giving courts more flexibility to not impose certain legal financial obligations or to waive those obligations.  

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How Local Ballot Measures Fared in the 2021 General Election

November 10, 2021  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Transportation Finance ,  Forms of Government-City ,  Forms of Government-County ,  Inclusive Communities ,  Ballot Measures

From changes in governance to funding for criminal justice, libraries, and transportation, this blog covers many local ballot measures across the state and how these issues fared in the recent general election.

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Trial by Zoom: Using Online Platforms in Administrative Proceedings, Trials, and Oral Arguments

December 28, 2020  by  Clara Park
Category:  Guest Author ,  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  COVID-19 ,  Land Use Administration

This blog post discusses the current state of virtual proceedings and offers pointers for anyone navigating the shift from in-person to virtual proceedings.

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Promising Practices for Local Governments: Combating Elder Neglect, Short-Term Vacation Rental Compliance, Reducing Recidivism

December 19, 2019  by  Byron Katsuyama
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Tourism ,  Health and Human Services

This post highlights promising practices for combating elder neglect, increasing compliance with short-term vacation rental regulations, and transitioning newly released inmates back into the community.

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Fewer Teens May End Up in Adult Courts

August 20, 2018  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System

Signed into law this March, SB 6160 reduces the number of criminal offenses under which youth defendants aged 16- to 17-years-old can be automatically sent to adult court to have their cases tried. 

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