The Washington Supreme Court will hold a public hearing on September 25, 2024, to gather testimony on proposed changes to the standards for indigent defense. The session will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the Thurston County Atrium building in Olympia and will be accessible both in-person and remotely via Zoom. Registration is required for those wishing to testify.
The hearing venue is located at Room 110, 3000 Pacific Avenue SE, Olympia, and will be broadcast live by TVW. Proposed amendments include reducing maximum caseloads for public defense attorneys, revising qualification requirements, and setting minimum support staffing levels.
These changes were suggested by the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) and its Council on Public Defense. The Supreme Court will review these proposals and decide whether to adopt them fully or partially or reject them.
Organizations invited to testify include:
- Association of Washington Cities
- Washington State Association of Counties
- Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
- WSBA Board of Governors
- WSBA Council on Public Defense
- Washington State Board for Judicial Administration
- Washington State Office of Public Defense
Following organizational testimonies, the floor will open to other interested parties.
The Thurston County Atrium building is wheelchair accessible. For accessible communication needs, contact RulesComments@courts.wa.gov. Limited visitor parking is available onsite with additional free parking nearby.
Advance registration is necessary for all who wish to testify, either in person or via Zoom. Registrants will receive further instructions via email along with a Zoom webinar link regardless of their chosen format. Registration closes at 8 a.m. on September 25th.
Time limits may be imposed on testimonies to accommodate as many speakers as possible. If time constraints prevent all registered participants from speaking, written comments can be submitted until October 31, 2024.
Written comments should be emailed to supreme@courts.wa.gov or mailed to P.O. Box 40929, Olympia, WA 98504-0929. Email comments are limited to 1500 words; longer documents can be attached separately.
A second public hearing is scheduled for November 13, with details forthcoming.
For further inquiries:
Wendy K. Ferrell
Judicial Communications Manager
360.705.5331
Wendy.Ferrell@courts.wa.gov
Lorrie Thompson
Communications Officer
360.705.5347
Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov