Washington Courts: News and Information

Washington Supreme Court Justices Will Hear Cases, Answer Questions From Public at Bellevue College Nov. 12-13 

Washington Supreme Court justices will hear arguments in two appellate cases and answer questions from the public during a two-day visit to Bellevue College Nov. 12–13 as part of the Court’s Traveling Court outreach program. This will be the Court’s third visit to Bellevue College and the first since 2016, and will be the final oral arguments for Justice Mary I. Yu, who is retiring in December.

Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend a moderated Q&A panel with four justices on Wednesday, Nov. 12 beginning at 11:15 a.m. at the college, located at 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, in Building U, Room 208. The following day, Nov. 13, the public is welcome as justices hear oral arguments in two cases beginning at 9 a.m. in the Gary F. Locke Ballroom (U Building Room 301B). Justices will take questions from the audience following the second case.

"Of the three branches of government, the judiciary has the least visibility.  And of that limited visibility, the appellate courts have less visibility than trial courts,” said Justice Salvador Mungia, who serves on the Traveling Court Committee. “Traveling court gives the public a chance, without having to travel to Olympia, to see actual cases argued that will affect everyone in Washington State. People will be able to watch skilled advocates argue their cases while fielding questions from the nine justices. We believe watching oral arguments will be both interesting and informative for all who attend."

The Traveling Court outreach program began in 1985 to allow justices to visit communities around Washington each year to hear real cases and answer questions from students and community members about the operations of the Supreme Court and the judicial branch.

“As we prepare to welcome the Washington State Supreme Court to Bellevue College, I'm reminded of how valuable a program of this nature truly is,” said Bellevue College President David May, who holds a doctorate in political science and is an expert in Supreme Court politics. “Access to information is one mark of a healthy democratic society. Seeing government in action, transparently and openly, is essential. The Traveling Court program gives our students and community the chance to witness judicial proceedings close to where they work, study, and live.”

Learn more about the Traveling Court program on the program’s web page, which includes a new short video about the visit to Bellevue College as well as educational flyers, booklets and links to more information about Supreme Court justices and operations.

For the oral arguments on Nov. 13, Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens, Associate Chief Justice Charles W. Johnson, and Justices Barbara A. Madsen, Steven González, Sheryl Gordon McCloud, Mary I. Yu, Raquel Montoya-Lewis, G. Helen Whitener and Salvador Mungia will hear the following arguments:

• 9 a.m. Case #1, 103252-8, In re Detention of M.E. and R.S. (consolidated with 103312-5) – A person facing civil commitment for involuntary treatment has the right to an attorney. In King County, attorneys are provided by the King County Department of Public Defense (DPD). In these cases, DPD told the trial court it could not provide attorneys, unless the court ordered it to do so, because DPD’s attorneys had reached their caseload limits. The trial court ordered DPD and the King County Executive to provide attorneys. This case asks whether these orders exceeded the trial court’s authority or violated GR 42 and whether a trial court has the authority to order the public defender to accept an appointment even though that limit will be exceeded. It also asks whether a trial judge may order the County Executive to ensure that a person who is entitled to a public defender has one. 
   
• 10 a.m. Case #2, 103824-1, State v. Hogan –  Juries must be fair and drawn from a cross section of the community. To ensure potential jurors are not eliminated from juries on account of race, the Washington Supreme Court adopted General Rule 37, which prohibits excluding a potential juror if an objective observer could view “race or ethnicity” as a factor in that challenge. In this case, Mr. Hogan, who is Black, was on trial for assault and murder. During jury selection, the State challenged a white potential juror who expressed concern about racial fairness of the justice system. Mr. Hogan’s defense lawyer objected to the challenge, based on potential gender identity of the juror. This Court will consider (1) whether Mr. Hogan adequately objected to the State’s peremptory challenge based on “race”; if so, then (2) whether GR 37 protects only potential jurors of color from challenges based on “race”; and (3) whether an objective observer could view race as a factor in the State’s use of a peremptory challenge against Juror 40. 

“As much as I love hearing oral arguments at the Temple of Justice, it is fitting that my last day of oral arguments with this Court is during traveling court,” said Justice Yu, who has served more than 11 years on the Court, and many years on the King County Superior Court previously. “Being in the community is more relevant than ever before and it is the perfect way to end my career as a Justice.”

All Washington Supreme Court oral arguments are open to the public, and are livestreamed by Washington’s Public Affairs network, TVW. Though cameras and video recorders are generally allowed, the Court asks that no flash, other lights or noisy film advance mechanisms be used during the hearings. Requests for interpreters can be sent to Washington Supreme Court Administrator Ashley Lipford at Ashley.Lipford@courts.wa.gov.

Visitor parking is available in parking lots 1A and 3A near the Landerholm Circle entrance of the Bellevue College campus. More information about visitor parking, including its purchase for $3 per day, can be found at bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/bellevue-college-parking/.

Contact: Administrative Office of the Courts Senior Communications Officer Lorrie Thompson, Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov, 360-705-5347; Raechel Dawson, Associate Director of Communications, mediarelations@bellevuecollege.edu, 425-564-2486.