Washington Courts: News and Information

Court of Appeals, Division II Hears Cases in Puyallup on May 24

The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II, will hear oral arguments outside of its regular Tacoma courtroom during a community visit to Rogers High School in Puyallup on May 24. The public is welcome to view the arguments and to ask questions about the workings of the court, after arguments are concluded.

The hearings will begin at 9 a.m. in the Performing Arts Center of Rogers High School, 12801 86th Ave. E., Puyallup, WA, 98373. Students will be available to provide directions.

“Our court periodically hears cases in schools to show students how appellate courts work,” said Court of Appeals Division II Chief Judge Bradley Maxa. “There is growing understanding of the importance of civics education, and holding court in schools gives students a ‘real life’ experience with the judicial branch of government. And we enjoy interacting with and answering questions from the students.”

The court travels outside of Tacoma at least twice a year to allow interested people who otherwise would have difficulty attending court hearings an opportunity to attend oral arguments and to see the Court of Appeals in action.

Arguments are scheduled at 15 minutes for each side of each appeals case. Beginning at 9 a.m., a panel comprised of Chief Judge Bradley Maxa (from Puyallup), Acting Chief Judge Linda Lee (from Steilacoom) and Judge Lisa Worswick (from Puyallup) will hear arguments in the following cases:

1. State v. Grocery Manufacturer’s Association — GMA’s appeal of a $18 million civil penalty imposed for violations of the Fair Campaign Practices Act relating to GMA’s opposition to a 2013 ballot initiative that would have required all food packages to identify ingredients containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs);


2. State v. Cleon Moen — Moen’s appeal of his conviction for aggravated first degree murder for killing his wife, and his sentence of life imprisonment without parole, which he claims in unconstitutional because he is elderly and suffers from dementia;


3. State v. Llewellyne Holcomb — Holcomb’s appeal of his multiple convictions, which he claims should have been dismissed because of excessive delay in bringing his case to trial.

The Court of Appeals Division II is headquartered in Tacoma and hears appeals of cases from the superior courts in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Thurston and Pierce counties. The Court has the authority to overrule, remand, modify, or affirm decisions of the trial courts. The Court generally hears oral arguments on appeals cases at its courthouse in Tacoma, but travels when possible to hear arguments in other locations to give members of the public in those areas easier availability to attend arguments.

For information regarding the Court of Appeals and other levels of court, visit the Washington Courts website at www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts.