Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Public welcome as Court of Appeals, Div. III hears cases at Wenatchee High School Oct. 24

The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, will hear oral arguments outside of its regular Spokane courtroom during a community visit to Wenatchee High School on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The hearings will begin at 9 a.m. in the school auditorium located at 1101 Millerdale Ave. The public is welcome to attend the oral arguments and ask questions about the role and operations of the Court of Appeals during the Q&A break and at the end of the session.

"We're happy to have returned to occasional community based oral argument hearings after suspending them in April 2020," Division III Chief Judge George Fearing commented. "It is a great way for students to learn more about their state courts and to witness the lawyers' advocacy. The Wenatchee High School staff has been very welcoming and we look forward to interacting with their students."

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

Chief Judge George Fearing, Acting Chief Judge Robert Lawrence-Berrey, and Judge Rebecca Pennell will hear arguments in the following case:

• 9 a.m.: Case #380840, In Re: Bethany Alhaidari and Ghassan Alhaidari - Issue Statement: Did the trial court err when it refused to enforce a Saudi Arabian child custody decree? - TVW Link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2023101167

• 10:30 a.m.:  Case #390195, State of Washington v. Jarod Roland Taylor – Issue Statement: Was the defendant unlawfully seized when found sleeping in a field by police? TVW Link: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2023101168

Each argument will last approximately 30 minutes. To allow for questions and answers, we will have a 30-minute break between the first and second case. Web access to public documents on the above cases can be found at Washington State Courts - Appellate and Trial Courts.  

The Court of Appeals occasionally hears oral arguments in various eastern Washington cities outside of its Spokane Headquarters. The court resumed community-based oral arguments in October, 2022 and have heard arguments at Eisenhower High School, Yakima; North Central High School, Spokane, and Chiawana High School, Pasco.  

In September, the court was the recipient of the Nevin Award for promoting community outreach and civic education based on outreach to area high schools. Further information regarding the Court, visit the Washington Courts website at Washington State Courts - Appellate and Trial Courts.

Contact:  Court of Appeals, Div. III Clerk Tristen Worthen, (509) 456-3082, Tristen.worthen@courts.wa.gov.