Washington Courts: News and Information

Public welcome as Court of Appeals, Div. III hears cases at Chiawana High School in Pasco April 24

The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, will hear oral arguments outside of its regular Spokane courtroom during a community visit to Chiawana High School in Pasco on Monday, April 24. The public is welcome to attend the oral arguments and to ask questions about the role and operations of the Court of Appeals during Q&A sessions. 

The hearings will begin at 9 a.m. in the school auditorium located at 8125 W. Argent Rd, Pasco, WA. They will be recorded and livestreamed by TVW. 

“We’re happy to have returned to occasional community based oral argument hearings after suspending them in April 2020,” said Division III Chief Judge George Fearing. “It is a great way for students to learn more about their state courts and to witness the lawyers’ advocacy. The Chiawana High School staff has been very welcoming and we look forward to interacting with their students.”

Beginning at 9 a.m., Chief Judge Fearing, Judge Rebecca Pennell and Judge Tracy Staab will hear arguments in the following case:

• 377148 – State of Washington v. Raymundo Casares –  Did the trial court err by admitting evidence identifying the defendant as the culprit in this murder prosecution? TVW Link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2023041277

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Chief Judge Fearing, Judge Pennell and Judge Laurel H. Siddoway will hear arguments in the following three cases:

• 384250 – State of Washington v. Leslie Melgar Moreno: Did trial counsel provide ineffective assistance by failing to propose self-defense instructions as to the charge of first-degree manslaughter? TVW Link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2023041278


• 389073 – Franklin County v. Futurewise:  Was Franklin County required to follow the Growth Management Act’s process for de-designating “Franklin Crops” as agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance when drafting its 2018 comprehensive plan? TVW Link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2023041279


• 389278 – Klickitat Land Preservation Fund, et al v. Klickitat County, et al:  Did the superior court err when it affirmed issuance of a conditional use permit and mitigated determination of non-significance to respondent, Under Canvas, Inc.?  TVW Link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2023041280

Each argument will last approximately 30 minutes. To allow for questions and answers, there will be a 30-minute break between the second and third case. Briefs and other filings in these cases can be found at Washington State Courts - Appellate and Trial Courts.

The Court of Appeals, Division III is headquartered in Spokane, WA and hears appeals of case outcomes from trial courts throughout the Eastern Washington counties of Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima.

The Court occasionally hears oral arguments in eastern Washington cities outside of its Spokane headquarters. This will be the court’s third community-based set of oral arguments since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2022, the court visited Yakima, where they heard oral arguments at the Eisenhower High School and in March 2023, the court heard oral arguments locally at the North Central High School.

Further information on the history, members and operations of the three divisions of the Washington Court of Appeals is available at Washington State Courts - Appellate and Trial Courts.

Contact: Court of Appeals, Div. III Clerk Tristen Worthen, (509) 456-3082, Tristen.worthen@courts.wa.gov.