Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Court of Appeals, Division III Hears Cases in Ellensburg on Law Day

The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, will hear oral arguments in five appeals cases May 1 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg during a community visit hosted by the university’s Law & Justice and Political Science departments. The public is welcome to attend the hearings and to ask questions during Q&A times.

The oral arguments will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Student Union and Recreation Center's theater. The panel of judges includes Chief Judge Robert Lawrence-Berrey, Judge Kevin Korsmo, and Acting Chief Judge Rebecca Pennell.

“Law Day has been held on May 1 each year since 1958. It celebrates the role of law in our society and serves to cultivate a deeper understanding of our legal profession,” said Court of Appeals Division III Chief Judge Robert Lawrence-Berrey. “We look forward to visiting CWU on May 1, and giving the students and the public an opportunity to see firsthand what we do, and to ask us questions after oral arguments conclude.”

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., a panel will hear oral arguments in the following cases:

• State of Washington v. Eduardo Perez — 35043-6 (from Yakima County Superior Court)  Eduardo Perez appeals his conviction for attempted burglary, contending the evidence was insufficient because it does not show he took a substantial step towards entering the home or that he intended to commit a crime therein.
   
• Nancy Fechner, et al v. Scott Volyn DBA Volyn Law Firm, et al — 35291-9 (from Chelan County Superior Court)  Nancy Fechner appeals the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in a malpractice lawsuit she brought against a law firm.”
   
• State of Washington v. Vincente Guizar Figueroa — 34708-7 (Benton County Superior Court)  Vincente Figueroa appeals his conviction on two counts of first degree burglary, five counts of first degree kidnapping, one count of first degree robbery, and one count of theft of a motor vehicle, with firearm sentencing enhancements. 
   
• State of Washington v. Philip Nolan Lester — 34806-7 (from Okanogan County Superior Court)  Philip Lester appeals his conviction of first degree rape of a child and first degree child molestation.
   
• Randall Hoffman v. Kittitas County, et al — 35091-6 (from Kittitas County Superior Court)  Randall Hoffman appeals a trial court finding that Kittitas County Sheriff’s Department did not act in bad faith when it improperly redacted and withheld 126 records for 246 days following a Public Records Act request.

Full case summaries are available online at Division III — Issue Summaries. Each argument will last approximately 30 minutes. After the oral arguments, the court will entertain questions from the public about the role and function of the Court of Appeals.

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

The Court arranges to hear oral arguments in various eastern Washington cities outside of its Spokane headquarters when possible, and welcomes the public to attend hearings and learn more about the court.

For further information regarding the Court, visit the Washington Courts Web site at www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts.