Washington Case Commentaries

Unauthorized Use of Judicial Signature Stamps and Court Seals for Personal Benefit Constitutes CJC 1.3 “Abuse” Warranting Removal

Date: Apr 16, 2026

Unauthorized Use of Judicial Signature Stamps and Court Seals for Personal Benefit Constitutes CJC 1.3 “Abuse” Warranting Removal 1. Introduction In re Disciplinary Proc. Against Ruzumna is a...

Knowing and Voluntary Barr/Zhao Pleas Stipulating “Separate and Distinct Acts” Bar Collateral Double-Jeopardy Attacks

Date: Apr 16, 2026

Knowing and Voluntary Barr/Zhao Pleas Stipulating “Separate and Distinct Acts” Bar Collateral Double-Jeopardy Attacks 1. Introduction In re Pers. Restraint of Bin-Bellah (Wash. Apr. 9, 2026)...

Property-in-Washington Nexus Required to Recognize Foreign-Country Money Judgments Absent Personal Jurisdiction

Date: Apr 16, 2026

Property-in-Washington Nexus Required to Recognize Foreign-Country Money Judgments Absent Personal Jurisdiction Case: Alterna Aircraft V B Ltd. v. SpiceJet Ltd., No. 103759-7 (Wash. Apr. 9, 2026) (en...

False Discounting Alone Is Not a CPA “Business or Property” Injury Absent Objective Economic Loss (Montes v. SPARC Group LLC)

Date: Apr 4, 2026

False Discounting Alone Is Not a CPA “Business or Property” Injury Absent Objective Economic Loss Case: Montes v. SPARC Group LLC, No. 104162-4 (Wash. Apr. 2, 2026) (en banc) Posture: Certified...

State v. Krause: Victim-Interconnected “Reporting Context” and Overlapping Witnesses Can Justify Denial of Severance Despite Limited Cross-Admissibility of Underlying Sexual-Assault Details

Date: Mar 28, 2026

State v. Krause: Victim-Interconnected “Reporting Context” and Overlapping Witnesses Can Justify Denial of Severance Despite Limited Cross-Admissibility of Underlying Sexual-Assault Details I....

State v. Stearns: ER 404(b) Common Scheme or Plan Does Not Require Markedly Similar Victims

Date: Mar 28, 2026

ER 404(b) “Common Scheme or Plan” in Washington: Markedly Similar Acts Can Suffice Even Without Markedly Similar Victims Case: State v. Stearns (Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc) Date: March 26,...

Mandatory CrR 3.1 Caseload Limits and Noninterference with Public Defense Independence in ITA Appointments

Date: Mar 21, 2026

Mandatory CrR 3.1 Caseload Limits and Noninterference with Public Defense Independence in ITA Appointments 1. Introduction In In re Det. of M.E. (consolidated with In re Det. of R.S.), the Supreme...

Washington Felony Harassment After Counterman: RCW 9A.46.020 Survives Facial Challenge, but “True Threat” Instructions Must Require at Least Recklessness (Harmlessness Assessed Under Magaña-Arévalo)

Date: Mar 21, 2026

Washington Felony Harassment After Counterman: RCW 9A.46.020 Survives Facial Challenge, but “True Threat” Instructions Must Require at Least Recklessness (Harmlessness Assessed Under Magaña-Arévalo)...

Beard v. Everett Clinic: “Exercise of Judgment” Instruction Requires Evidence of Standard-of-Care-Compliant Decision-Making Process (Not Merely the Outcome)

Date: Mar 14, 2026

Beard v. Everett Clinic: “Exercise of Judgment” Instruction Requires Evidence of Standard-of-Care-Compliant Decision-Making Process (Not Merely the Outcome) Court: Supreme Court of Washington (En...

Washington Reaffirms that “Clear Preponderance” in ELC 10.14(b) Is the Constitutionally Required Intermediate Burden in Attorney Discipline

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Washington Reaffirms that “Clear Preponderance” in ELC 10.14(b) Is the Constitutionally Required Intermediate Burden in Attorney Discipline I. Introduction In re Disciplinary Proceeding Against Monro...

Jailer Special Duty Does Not Preclude Statutory Felony and Intoxication Complete Defenses (Anderson v. Grant County)

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Jailer Special Duty Does Not Preclude Statutory Felony and Intoxication Complete Defenses in In-Custody Overdose Wrongful-Death Claims Case: Anderson v. Grant County, No. 103111-4 Court: Supreme...

In re Recall of Clouse: Appearance of Impropriety and Underspecified Policy References Do Not Establish a Recallable Offense

Date: Feb 28, 2026

In re Recall of Clouse: Appearance of Impropriety and Underspecified Policy References Do Not Establish a Recallable Offense Court: Supreme Court of Washington (En Banc) Date: February 26, 2026 Case:...

In re Recall of Lauser: Recall Petitions Alleging Criminal Violations Must Plead Intent; Nude Political Protest Is Protected Expression and Not “Obscene Exposure”

Date: Feb 28, 2026

In re Recall of Lauser: Recall Petitions Alleging Criminal Violations Must Plead Intent; Nude Political Protest Is Protected Expression and Not “Obscene Exposure” Introduction Case: In re Recall of...

Scott v. Amazon.com, Inc. — Suicide Not a Per Se Superseding Cause in WPLA Product-Seller Negligence Claims

Date: Feb 22, 2026

Suicide Not a Per Se Superseding Cause in WPLA Product-Seller Negligence Claims (Scott v. Amazon.com, Inc.) Supreme Court of Washington (En Banc) — Filed February 19, 2026 — No. 103730-9 1....

Chandrruangphen v. City of Sammamish — LUPA Requires Strict Municipal Service and Treats E-mailed Decisions as “Not Mailed” (No 3-Day Tolling)

Date: Feb 15, 2026

LUPA Requires Strict Municipal Service and Treats E-mailed Written Decisions as “Not Mailed” (No 3-Day Tolling) Introduction In Chandrruangphen v. City of Sammamish, No. 103789-9 (Wash. Feb. 12,...

RCW 35.22.120: “Next Regular Municipal Election” Includes Special Elections; Mandamus Requires a Clear Ministerial Duty

Date: Jan 31, 2026

RCW 35.22.120: “Next Regular Municipal Election” Includes Special Elections; Mandamus Requires a Clear Ministerial Duty Introduction A Better Richland v. Chilton is a Washington Supreme Court en banc...

State v. Wasuge: Race and Ethnicity Are Permissible, Objective Factors in Washington’s Miranda Custody “Totality of the Circumstances” Test

Date: Jan 16, 2026

State v. Wasuge: Race and Ethnicity Are Permissible, Objective Factors in Washington’s Miranda Custody “Totality of the Circumstances” Test Court: Supreme Court of Washington (En Banc) Date: January...

State v. Magana-Arevalo: Miranda Custody Must Be Assessed Under the Totality (Including Race/Ethnicity) and Constitutional Harmless Error Must Weigh Both Prejudice and Proof

Date: Jan 16, 2026

State v. Magana-Arevalo: Miranda Custody Must Be Assessed Under the Totality (Including Race/Ethnicity) and Constitutional Harmless Error Must Weigh Both Prejudice and Proof Introduction Case: State...

State v. Bennett: Completeness-as-Context—Completing an Unavailable Witness Interview to Rebut a Misleading “Inadequate Investigation” Theory Without Triggering Confrontation

Date: Jan 16, 2026

Completeness-as-Context: Completing an Unavailable Witness Interview to Rebut a Misleading “Inadequate Investigation” Theory Does Not Trigger the Confrontation Clause When Used for...

State v. Lee: Intent Not Dispositive—Multiple Assaultive Acts in One Episode Constitute a Single Unit of Prosecution for Second-Degree Assault

Date: Jan 16, 2026

State v. Lee: Intent Not Dispositive—Multiple Assaultive Acts in One Episode Constitute a Single Unit of Prosecution for Second-Degree Assault Court: Supreme Court of Washington (en banc) Date:...