Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

On the Road Again: Washington Supreme Court to Hear Cases in Spokane at Gonzaga University This Week

October 14, 2010

SPOKANE, Wash. – The nine justices of the Washington State Supreme Court will travel to Gonzaga University to interact with Gonzaga students and the public at forums and to hear arguments on three cases. The forums on Oct. 20 and the oral arguments on Oct. 21 are open to the public.

The state’s highest court will interact with Gonzaga undergraduate and law students by participating in classes, hosting forums on law as a vocation, and at informal lunches. The forums, titled “Law as a Vocation: A Discussion with Washington State Supreme Court Justices,” will be an opportunity for students and the public to see the justices and learn more about the state court system and the law, especially as a profession. The forums will be held from 1:10-2 p.m., and again from 2:10-3 p.m. in the Jepson Center’s Wolff Auditorium.
 
The Court will hear arguments Oct. 21 in the following cases in the Law School’s Barbieri Courtroom:
 
  • 9-9:40 a.m:   Michaels v. CH2M Hill, Inc., No. 84168-3 Involves on-the-job injuries sustained at the City of Spokane’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, and concerns whether professionals and employees are immune to actions against third persons (RCW 51.24.035) under the state workers’ compensation statute.
  • 9:50-10:30 a.m: State v. Martin, No. 83709-1Whether article I, section 22 of the Washington Constitution, which guarantees a criminal defendant’s right to appear and defend in person, prohibits the State from cross-examining a defendant about his ability to tailor his testimony to discovery materials and the evidence presented when he was present at trial.
 
  • 1:30-2:15 p.m.:  City of Seattle v. May, No. 83677-9  Whether a permanent domestic violence protection order is invalid in failing to include adequate findings for extending the order beyond one year and in failing to state that the person subject to the order could be charged under the Seattle Municipal Code for violating the order.
The State Supreme Court is based in the Temple of Justice in Olympia. For more than a decade, the Court has heard cases “on the road” three times a year in an effort to reach out to citizens and invite them to see the court in action in their local communities. After lunch with Gonzaga students on Oct. 20, the justices will hold open forums and visit classrooms.
 
Three of the court’s justices are Gonzaga Law School alumnae: Chief Justice Barbara Madsen (’77), and Justices Mary E. Fairhurst (’79) and Debra L. Stephens (’93).
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Washington Courts Media Contacts:

Wendy K. Ferrell
Judicial Communications Manager
360.705.5331
e-mail Wendy.Ferrell@courts.wa.gov 		Lorrie Thompson
Communications Officer
360.705.5347
Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov
 

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