Seattle’s political Twittersphere has been lit up over the last forty eight hours with frenzied discussion of a proposal by Council member Herbold to introduce legislation that would create new defenses for misdemeanor crimes in Seattle. The goal of the legislation is to reduce the number of people entering the criminal justice system for so-called “crimes of poverty.” Fanning the flames of the controversy is a white paper published by Scott Lindsay, former advisor to Ed Murray and former candidate for City Attorney, which claims that the legislation would eviscerate nearly all prosecutions for misdemeanors in Seattle by providing new …
Continue readingTag: Seattle Municipal Court
State-mandated court fines are sending Black people into debt — and to jail. SPD is making the problem worse.
(updated with some minor corrections in the details related to fines, fees and penalties) As one might expect for a Seattle-based institution, the Seattle Municipal Court has earned a reputation for pursuing progressive policies with regard to criminal justice reform. In recent years the Court has worked to reshape its procedures and policies for both probation and bail to address racial disparities. Most recently it has turned its attention to “legal financial obligations” or LFOs: the patchwork of fines, penalties and fees that are imposed upon those found guilty of breaking the law. The Court, in cooperation with the city’s …
Continue readingSeattle Municipal Court, City Attorney’s Office closed due to COVID-19 exposure
Both the Seattle Municipal Court and The Seattle City Attorney’s Office announced today that they will be closed to business March 16 through 20 due to employees testing positive for COVID-19.
Continue readingConfirmation moves forward for two Seattle Municipal Court appointees
Yesterday the Council’s Gender Equity, Safe Communities and New Americans Committee held confirmation hearings for two Mayoral appointees to the Seattle Municipal Court.
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