cases - washington

Defendant Has Right to Be Present During All Jury Selection

Mary Whisner
February 28, 2012 04:03

A defendant is headed for a second trial for first-degree murder after his first conviction was reversed because he had not been present for all aspects of jury selection. Biker convicted in ‘no-body’ Ravensdale killing headed for new trial, SeattlePI.com, Feb. 26, 2012.The Court of Appeals case is...

Prosecutor May Disclose Cop's Records from Elsewhere

Mary Whisner
February 14, 2012 02:36

After he accidentally became aware of a dispute between an officer (in Quincy, WA) and a prior employer (a sheriff's office in California), the Grant County prosecutor determined that the proceedings showed a record of dishonesty and hence should be disclosed to defense counsel in cases where the...

Updates to Pattern Instructions

Mary Whisner
January 17, 2012 21:53

Today the Washington Courts announced: several criminal pattern jury instructions were recently updated. Changes have been made to WPIC 1.01, 4.61, and 4.69 in order to spell out in greater detail the prohibitions against jurors discussing the case with others, including with regard to their...

Hiding Tattoos?

Mary Whisner
January 10, 2012 23:10

In pretrial motions, lawyers argued over whether the jury should be allowed to see Michael Coombes's tattoos – one on his face with A-F (for Aryan Family) and one on his hip with a gun and a syringe; the gun was the same brand and caliber as the murder weapon. Murder suspect hopes makeup will hide...

Second Trial in Civil Sex Abuse Case Because of Juror Misconduct

Mary Whisner
November 26, 2011 07:00

A Shoreline pediatrician will have a second trial in a civil case brought by young men who allege he engaged in improper sexual conduct with them when they were minors. The doctor admits to much of the conduct but says it was a legitimate part of his mentoring the boys.Originally there were thee...