Monthly Archives: March 2017

Jury Nullifcation Explained

A trial by jury is a guaranteed right that all defendants have in the United States.  That jury is comprised of average citizens from all walks of life with no special training or skills to serve other than being a U.S. citizen who are at least 18 years old, residing in the judicial district for… Continue Reading »

April = no Studded Tires!

Spring has arrived, and the sun is not far behind. In like kind, the snow is retreating, and studded tires will soon follow. Drivers have until April 1, 2017 to remove their winter studded tires. Failure to remove studded tires by that date will result in a $136 traffic infraction. We all know our roads… Continue Reading »

Guns, DV and the Attorneys’ Challenge

If you or a loved one is convicted of a domestic violence related felony or misdemeanor your right to possess a firearm will be terminated. US federal law mandates it; put simply, anyone who is convicted of an act of domestic violence will lose their right to possess a gun. This is true even if… Continue Reading »

Revised Code of Washington

Each and every crime in the State of Washington is enumerated in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). These codes define what a crime is, lay out the elements of each crime and, in many cases, provide sentencing guidelines for the specific criminal act. Crimes are divided into two categories: misdemeanors and felonies. The less… Continue Reading »

As the law Turns

Washington’s distracted driving bill is moving forward quickly. As you all know, we have been following the bill’s course.  Last week both chambers of the state legislature passed versions of the bill thus making it highly likely that drivers will be banned from using handheld devices in 2018. The House version of the Driving Under… Continue Reading »

Probationary Period

One of the most important jobs of a criminal defense lawyer is to ensure that a client avoids jail time at any cost. For many, this means a suspended sentence in lieu of jail time, but with this comes along a probationary period. The length of probation can vary, and the type of probation imposed… Continue Reading »

Lakewood Police Drawing first Blood

SQ Attorneys

Police officers in the City of Lakewood, Washington are now performing their own blood draws on suspected impaired drivers. Although other states have consistently permitted such an intrusive act, Washington state law has essentially in the past required that a trained medical professional draw blood. This often, of course, necessitates that an officer take the… Continue Reading »

I’m in jail … Get me out!

Upon an arrest, typically the first question a person asks thenselves is how they can get out as quickly as possible. Several things must happen before a jail facility can release an individual from jail. The process typically involves a “booking” process and a bail hearing that determines whether the person arrested may be released… Continue Reading »