A week ago, Governor Jay Inslee commuted the sentences of more than 125 people on community supervision. The Governor’s actions related to folks whose drug convictions were previously deemed unconstitutional by the Blake ruling, which was handed down in February by our State Supreme Court.
In Blake, the court overturned Washington’s felony drug possession statute. The ruling literally rendered a decade’s worth of drug related cases invalid. The governor’s recent action was actually part of a broader push to grant as many as 1200 commutations. The governor earlier issued several commutations to incarcerated people serving prison terms solely due to Blake. The governor is issuing approximately 15-30 new orders of commutation a day, and is now allowing certain people convicted under the statute to petition directly for commutation.
Conversely, the law enforcement arm of our government is trying to quickly develop a reasonable, and acceptable, fix to the Blake problem. It is clear that the war on drugs isn’t quite over just yet.
If you or a loved one is facing a criminal charge (drug related, or otherwise), don’t hesitate to hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyer. The Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle criminal attorneys that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested or criminally charged all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case. So, whether you are cited with an infraction or arrested and/or charged with misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony, protect yourself … call SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.
