Tagged: Supreme Court

It took seven years and hundreds of court filings. Now the legal fight over Washington’s top-two primary is over. The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to hear an appeal brought by the state’s Democratic and Libertarian parties. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

The Washington Supreme Court could decide by the end of this year whether a voter-approved two-thirds requirement for tax hikes is constitutional. But first, the justices must determine who has the right to challenge the law. That technical question was the focus of oral arguments Tuesday. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins has details.

Gas station owners in Washington have won the right to proceed with a lawsuit against the state. They’re challenging the policy of gas tax refunds to Native American tribes who operate their own gas stations. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins has more on the implications.

Early primary totals indicate that two advocates for defendants’ rights could compete for the open seat on the Washington supreme court: Sheryl Gordon McCloud and Richard Sanders. KUOW’s Amy Radil reports.

Four candidates had sought to replace retiring supreme court justice Tom Chambers. They included longtime King County Superior Court judge Bruce Hilyer, and former Pierce county executive John Ladenburg. But primary night totals showed appellate defense lawyer Sheryl Gordon McCloud and former state supreme court justice Richard Sanders in the lead.

Washington Supreme Court Justice Steve Gonzalez was appointed to the state’s high court six months ago. Now he’s up for reelection.

His opponent is Bruce Danielson, a Kitsap county attorney who has declined to campaign. The race will be decided in the August 7th primary, and Gonzalez says he’s rushing to build name recognition. KUOW’s Amy Radil reports.

The Supreme Court’s decision on the health care law threw many members of Congress for a loop. Many northwest lawmakers were surprised that the Supreme Court upheld the law’s individual mandate and put limits on the government’s attempt to expand Medicaid. Matt Laslo reports from the nation’s capital.