Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander and Justice Susan Owens will be joined on the historical court by Division One Court of Appeals Chief Judge Ronald Cox, retired Court of Appeals Division Two Judge Karen Seinfeld, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Daniel Berschauer, retired Pierce County Superior Court Judge Donald Thompson and Tribal Judge Theresa M. Pouley. 

Attorneys for the Nisqually Tribe and Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg will argue before the Court that Chief Leschi was wrongfully convicted.  Click here for a copy of the Petition for Exoneration and the Petitioners Memorandum of Law.  The Pierce County Prosecutor's Office will represent the prosecution.  

It is expected that there will be a ruling from the bench following testimony from eleven witnesses.  Although the ruling from the Historical Court has no legal standing, it will be, in the words of Chief Justice Alexander, “searching for the truth of what happened almost 150 years ago and its decision will be significant from a symbolic standpoint.”

Tickets are no longer available for the event, however proceedings can be viewed via Washington’s public affairs station, TVW on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Monday, December 13 at 8 p.m.   For channel locations, visit TVW online at www.tvw.org.