Today's arguments, May 13, 2010
The court hears four cases today. (Docket, briefs)
Morning session
In re PRP of Shawn Dominique Francis, No. 82619-6. Whether the defendant waived his double jeopardy challenge to multiple convictions by pleading guilty to the crimes.
State v. Irby, No. 82665-0. Whether the trial court in a criminal prosecution violated the defendant’s constitutional right to be present when it dismissed some potential jurors outside the defendant’s presence after conferring with defense counsel and the State by email.
Afternoon session
In re W. Russell Van Camp, No. 200,799-6. Whether an attorney can avoid suspension while the bar association’s recommendation for disbarment is heard on appeal.
Guillen, City of Sunnyside v. Contreras, No. 82531-9. A man was killed in a drug deal and the police seized his car and money. The family of the man asked the judge to return the seized property, which the court did at one-quarter of its value. The question is whether the claimant in an action to recover property seized in a controlled substances investigation “substantially prevailed,” and thus was entitled to an award of attorney fees, even though she recovered in value less than one-quarter of the assets she sought.
