Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Washington Supreme Court Travels to Seattle February 19-20 to Hear Cases at University of Washington

The Washington State Supreme Court will visit with students from the University of Washington and will hear oral arguments in three cases at the University’s School of Law. The public is invited to attend.

The visit, on February 19th and 20th is part of a travelling court outreach program in which justices travel to two or three communities around Washington each year to hear real cases and talk with community members about the judicial branch and justice system. The court’s last visit was to Western Washington University in Bellingham last October.

“The public is always welcome to visit the Temple of Justice and to sit in on oral arguments, but we understand it’s not always easy to travel to Olympia,” said Chief Justice Debra Stephens. “By visiting our local communities, we strive to improve access to these hearings and help to increase the understanding of how the appellate system works. We always enjoy these opportunities for outreach to students and community members.”

On Wednesday, February 19, justices of the Court will visit a variety of both undergraduate and law school classes to talk with students, and will have lunch with students in the Gallagher Law Library.

Later that afternoon, from 4 – 6 p.m., the School of Law will hold a reception for the Court, which is open to the public.

On Thursday, February 20 in the Appellate Courtroom (Room 133), Chief Justice Stephens and Justices Charles W. Johnson, Barbara A. Madsen, Susan Owens, Charles Wiggins, Steven González, Sheryl Gordon McCloud, Mary Yu and Raquel Montoya-Lewis will hear oral argument in the following cases:

• 9:00 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.  No. 97268-1, State (respondent) v. Escalante (petitioner):   Whether in this prosecution for possession of a controlled substance, a defendant who was kept nearly five hours in the waiting room of an international border crossing station while border patrol agents searched the van in which he was riding was “in custody” for purposes of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966), thus requiring suppression of statements he made in response to questioning conducted without Miranda warnings.
• 10:00 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. No. 97325-3, Gerlach (petitioner) v. The Cove Apts., et al.:  Whether a non-tenant injured in a fall from an apartment balcony may sue the landlord for breach of duties under Restatement (Second) of Property: Landlord and Tenant section 17.6 (1977).
• 10:40 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.:  Q&A with audience.
• 1:30 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. No. 97201-0, Lee, et al. (petitioners) v. Evergreen Hosp. Med. Ctr. (respondent):  Whether in this lawsuit brought by a public employee, the employer was entitled to compel arbitration under the collective bargaining agreement for statutory wage and hour claims.
• 2:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Q&A with audience.

All Washington Supreme Court oral arguments are open to the public, and are broadcasted at a later date via 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. TV stations are asked to pool coverage.  

Written opinions are rendered approximately three to six months after oral arguments. For further information regarding the Court, visit the Washington Courts web site at www.courts.wa.gov.