Yearly Archives: 2020

Prostitution Laws

It is widely known around the world as “the oldest profession,” prostitution is known by many names, from streetwalkers and brothels, to sophisticated call-girl or escort services. However, whatever name it goes by, prostitution is illegal in almost all fifty-states. At its most basic definition, prostitution is the exchange of a sexual act for money.… Continue Reading »

Selfie and Child Porngraphy

The word “selfie” has become part of our everyday vocabulary. In 2013 it was named the “Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year.” For the uninitiated, a selfie is a self-portrait photo typically taken with a digital/smartphone camera. The explosion of social media and camera phones have created endless opportunities for anyone to share their self-portraits… Continue Reading »

Tailored Warnings in our Future?

Washington DC could be on to something that Washington (and other states/ cities) may soon emulate – sending serious, and tailored, warning notices to bad drivers on their cell phones. DC is working on a program which identifies drivers with a history of traffic violations – speeding tickets, red-light violations etc. – and alerting them… Continue Reading »

Bellevue’s Swing and Sting

  As in years past, the Bellevue Police Department (the “BPD“) recently elected to ‘swing for the fences‘ and crack down on the ever burgeoning sex industry within its borders. Last week – on December 16th and 17th – the BPD conducted a two-night undercover operation that netted; (1) fourteen men for patronizing a prostitute,… Continue Reading »

Can I get deported due to a misdemeanor?

The government can deport all immigrants, including green card holders, if they violate the immigration laws of the country. The most common violations that result in deportations are usually criminal convictions. Figuring out whether a criminal conviction will get you deported can be very complicated, especially since both state and federal laws come into play.… Continue Reading »

SMC’s VirtualPalooza has Arrived

Although Seattle Municipal Court was one of the last courts in Western Washington to go virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has taken the lead in essentially eliminating in-person hearings on all criminal and civil infraction matters moving forward. That is a big shift in how SMC does business in less than a month. Most… Continue Reading »

Trials by Jury Suspended – For Now

On December 4, 2020 amid increasing positive test numbers for Covid-19, Judge Fair, the presiding judge for Snohomish County District Courts, extended the suspension of all jury trials until at least January 8, 2021. This was done via the issuance of Administrative Order 20-14, inclusive of attachments A and B, which can be found here… Continue Reading »

Basics of Expungement

Expungement is a court-ordered process in which the legal record of an arrest or a criminal conviction is “sealed,” or erased in the eyes of the law. When a conviction is expunged, the process may also be referred to as “setting aside a criminal conviction.” The availability of expungement, and the procedure for getting an… Continue Reading »

Abandoning a Child

Child abandonment occurs when a parent, guardian, or person in charge of a child either deserts a child without any regard for the child’s physical health, safety or welfare and with the intention of wholly abandoning the child, or in some instances, fails to provide necessary care for a child living under their roof. While… Continue Reading »

But Will it be Retroactive?

Last April the United States Supreme Court ruled that state court juries must be unanimous to convict a defendant of a serious crime. That sage ruling opened the door for the next logical question: Is the ruling retroactive? In other words, does it apply to those defendants already convicted? If so, thousands of convictions will… Continue Reading »