Blog
Mar 1, 2012 —
All Americans are guaranteed the right to a fair trial if they have been accused of a crime. The Sixth Amendment allows any criminal defendant to be represented by an attorney; and if the person cannot afford a lawyer, then he or she will be appointed one by the state at no cost. In practice, … [More]
Feb 28, 2012 —
In most court proceedings, the word of a law enforcement officer is generally considered to be truthful, or at the very least is usually given more weight than that of a civilian. That’s because police are assumed to be working in conjunction with the goals of the criminal justice system. But in order to maintain … [More]
Feb 18, 2012 —
The taste of freedom. After obtaining a dismissal in a difficult case Blair Russ discusses what it felt like to walk out of the courtroom with that client. Please click on the hyperlink to see the video: Blair Russ Discusses Clients Victory … [More]
Feb 9, 2012 —
What’s the worst way that you can insult a police officer? We’re not looking for specific answers (nor are we encouraging anyone to try anything that would be insulting to law enforcement). But we’re betting that no matter what you come up with, a story out of Lakewood will top it. You may remember Lakewood … [More]
Feb 7, 2012 —
There is little doubt that dealing with the homeless and/or mentally ill in King County is a difficult and complex problem. However, there are certain minimum standards that must be observed in these cases – and a federal jury felt that those standards were violated when a homeless woman gave birth to her child in … [More]
Feb 4, 2012 —
There’s an ongoing debate about gun laws in Seattle and the state of Washington. Gun control activists decry the dangers of firearms, while gun rights advocates claim that every person has a right to defend himself or herself against those who could do them harm. This difference of opinion crossed my mind when I found … [More]
Feb 2, 2012 —
Even though only a month has passed in 2012, marijuana has already been a hot topic in the state of Washington. In fact, there may be a sea change in how the drug is viewed by residents in the state before the year is out. Last Friday, the office of Washington’s Secretary of State certified … [More]
Jan 23, 2012 —
Law enforcement science is advancing at an incredibly fast rate. But sometimes, the changes in the laws themselves aren’t keeping up with the rapid technological progress. That’s why we sometimes need the courts to intervene. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in a case surrounding the tracking of suspects using global positioning … [More]
Jan 17, 2012 —
What’s worse than getting hit by a tractor-trailer while jogging, cracking half a dozen ribs, fracturing your skull, and breaking your back? Getting mocked by police officers who are supposed to be “helping” you. That’s what happened to a West Seattle man back on October 24. Tim Nelson was jogging on the West Seattle low … [More]
Jan 12, 2012 —
An aggravating circumstance is a fact, condition, or event which, when combined with a specific crime under Washington law, permits a judge or jury to impose a harsher sentence on a convicted individual than is otherwise permitted by statute. One such aggravating circumstance is committing a crime shortly after being released from incarceration. Of course, … [More]