A Seattle Times article published last week describes data that shows marijuana has increased as a factor in fatal crashes in Washington State. New data was collected from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Correlation between marijuana use and fatal crashes increased significantly in 2014. The number of drivers involved in deadly crashes who were shown to have THC …
Burglary is a felony offense in Washington State, with very serious penalties and consequences. There are four separate burglary-related statutes in Washington. Violations of these statutes each carry separate, specific penalties. If you are charged with one of these offenses, it is essential that you contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Given the seriousness of the charges, …
An Associated Press review of Washington cases reversed on appeal since 2012 due to prosecutor misconduct produced some alarming results: A disproportionate number of these cases were in Pierce County (17 out of 30). The Seattle Times highlighted this discovery in an article earlier this week. Prosecutorial misconduct refers to conduct on the part of the prosecutor that …
The Huffington Post provides a forum for Lorenzo Johnson to speak out about the injustice surrounding wrongfully convicted prisoners and to fight for his own freedom. Lorenzo Johnson served 16.5 years of a life-without-parole sentence, from 1994-2012, for a murder he did not commit. He was allegedly asked to falsely accuse a friend of the murder and …
For drug-related offenses in Washington State, there are several alternatives to incarceration that the courts may consider. These programs generally involve substance abuse treatment/rehabilitation as an alternative to incarceration. The Seattle Times describes the expansion of one of these programs, which is designed for non-violent drug offenders as an alternative to incarceration. Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) started …
A “Juvenile” refers to a minor under the age of 18. When a juvenile breaks the law, the process and consequences are typically different than when an adult breaks the law, under the juvenile justice system. After an arrest, the officer will decide if the juvenile should be released to a parent or taken to …
Defined: Annulment is a commonly used term for a court procedure that dissolves a marriage, treating it as though it never happened. In Washington State, a marriage annulment is called a “Declaration of Invalidity”. Such declarations are granted by the court under specific, special circumstances only. The ruling legally declares the marriage invalid from the …
There is a fair amount of social stigma attached to prenuptial agreements: Aren’t you expecting your marriage to last forever? Why are you preparing for your divorce? Does a prenup doom your marriage from the start? When saying “I do”, most all couples hope for a “happily ever after”. The truth is, more than half …
Many people assume that pulling off the road to rest when you have been drinking is not only a safe alternative to driving under the influence but also the takes away the chance of being charged with a DUI. This is not an accurate assumption. From a safety perspective, the wisest move is to refrain …
The rear-view mirror fills up with red lights… Your heart starts beating fast as you begin to anticipate comes next… DON’T PANIC! Take a deep breath and use these steps for what to do if you are being pulled over for a traffic violation in Washington State: Pull over safely: As soon as you see a police …
This Seattle Times article offers an opportunity to highlight the importance of having an independent understanding of basic financial concepts. Many Americans lack understanding about financial topics like mortgages, interest, and risk, and this article illustrates potential consequences when we lack this sort of knowledge. The article features a 56 year old Bellevue College teacher, who could be symbolic …
Fourth of July festivities are filled with BBQs, fireworks, family, and friends. As a prime summer holiday, July 4th is one of the biggest drinking days of the year, with alcohol a common part of the festivities. As everyone is out celebrating this weekend, we encourage you to drink responsibly and choose a designated driver. A …
