On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Martinez ruled against the ACLU on two motions it had filed in its case against the city and WSDOT over the ongoing “sweeps” of unsanctioned homeless encampments.
Continue readingCategory: legal
Catching up on court cases
The City of Seattle has so many high-profile court cases underway, it’s hard to stay up to date with them all. Here’s what’s been happening recently…
Continue readingAppeals court upholds SPD’s “use of force” policy
Today the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Seattle Police Department’s “use of force” policy for its officers is constitutional, in a major win for the city and its efforts to enact police accountability reforms under its Consent Decree with the DOJ.
Continue readingSawant on verge of losing defamation lawsuit — by default (UPDATED)
(update below – 9/18/17) Last month the two SPD officers who shot Che Taylor last year sued Council member Kshama Sawant for defamation. This morning, their lawyers filed a motion claiming that Sawant has missed the deadline to respond and thus should lose the case by default.
Continue readingOK, the Mayor resigned. Now what?
As I reported earlier today, Mayor Ed Murray announced early this afternoon that he is resigning effective at 5:00pm Wednesday. Since that time, there has been a mad scramble, both by city officials and by reporters and pundits, to sort out what happens next.
Continue readingChecking in on the police accountability legislation
When last I reported on the police accountability legislation, it was firmly stuck in the mud. Time to check in again, as much has happened since then.
Continue readingAppeals court halts Uber union ordinance for duration of appeal
Last week the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the US Chamber of Commerce a temporary injunction of the city’s ordinance granting Uber drivers the right to collective bargaining. Today it made that injunction permanent pending the court’s final ruling on the merits of the appeal.
Continue readingState AGs Sue to Stop Trump from Rescinding DACA
Today the attorneys general of fifteen states (including Washington) and the District of Columbia jointly sued the Trump Administration to stop Trump from rescinding the DACA program, as announced yesterday. Let’s look at their legal arguments.
Continue readingTrump administration announces it is rescinding and “winding down” DACA
This morning the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security announced that they are ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Continue readingAnother lawsuit filed against the Seattle income tax
Pacific Legal Foundation, champion of libertarian legal causes, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Seattle over its recently-passed income tax on high earners.
Continue reading