Monthly Archives: December 2017

Probation UA’s – Supremes Weigh In

SQ Attorneys

Earlier this year the Washington State Supreme Court considered whether Article I, section 7 of the Washington Constitution prohibits a requirement of random urinalysis (known in the court system as “UA”) of individuals on probation for a gross misdemeanor DUI offense. The defendant in the case plead guilty to DUI. The trial court imposed a… Continue Reading »

Defending Thyself May Equal Reimbursement

SQ Attorneys

Defending one’s self is a right unto everyone. If you, a loved one or your property is attacked, well … you have a right to defend, within reason of course. In Washington State, the law of “self defense” is very specific and, if established by a preponderance of the evidence at trial, not only exonerates… Continue Reading »

Hearsay, Hearsay, Hearsay ….

Today we will discuss a well-known rule of evidence called “hearsay.” Many have heard about it, and have a general understanding of what it may be, but today’s blog will focus on explaining the intricacies of the hearsay rule. The rule against hearsay is deceptively simple and full of exceptions. Hearsay is an out of… Continue Reading »

A Scary Tale Indeed

The stigma of domestic violence is quite real and quite impactful. It can cause the loss of home, job, family and friends. This is so because the societal knee jerk reaction is to conclude that someone accused of this type of crime is short-tempered, erratic and even possibly out of control. But what if a… Continue Reading »

Get a Lawyer!

A criminal defendant’s right to an attorney is found in the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires the “assistance of counsel” for the accused in all criminal prosecutions. This means that a defendant has a constitutional right to be represented by, or have access to an attorney during all criminal proceedings, from the… Continue Reading »

IID and Drugs?

When a person is convicted of DUI, he is required to only drive vehicles outfitted with an ignition interlock device (which is a device that detects alcohol on a person’s breath and/or in his lungs). This is true even if the DUI didn’t involve alcohol, i.e. marijuana or prescription drugs. Why would you need an… Continue Reading »

Appellate Rights

The right to a trial by jury is the most fundamental constitutional right a criminal defendant is granted. Upon a conviction after a jury trial, a defendant has the right to appeal a finding of guilt. In order for an appellate court to hear an appeal from a lower court the aggrieved party must demonstrate… Continue Reading »