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King County Judge Allows Glimpse Behind Bench

In March, King County Superior Court Judge Ronald Kessler made a mistake. He used the information available to him and made a judgment call that ultimately resulted in tragedy. For this, he was vilified by the media in Washington state and across the country. Feeling as if he had been treated unfairly by people who didn’t fully understand the law and his role within it, Kessler recently invited a reported from the Seattle Times to see just how a day in the life of a criminal court judge goes. [Read more…]

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Will May Day 2013 Protests Turn Ugly Like 2012?

May Day 2012 marked a day of protest around the world. In the U.S. these protests were particularly large in cities like New York, Oakland, and San Francisco. But the May Day activities in Seattle made front page news, not because of the large numbers or some positive change they effected, but because the failed and allegedly violent police response. [Read more…]

Washington Police Dogs Have Brutal Past

Police dogs are considered members of the force. Officers who handle them consider them both pet and partner. But when a police dog is known for brutal behavior, why isn’t he “fired”? Perhaps, like the police officers who train and handle them, police dogs are also above the law. [Read more…]

Officer Sentenced to Prison for Beating Death of Disabled Man

In Spokane Washington, former police officer Karl F. Thompson Jr., 65, was sentenced to four years and three months in the beating death of mentally disabled janitor, 36-year old Otto Zehm. U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle remarked that he hoped the sentence would bring closure to Zehm’s family and the community, who reacted with justifiable outrage at the brutal death. [Read more…]

Seattle Police Department Forced to Make Changes After Investigations

The Seattle Police Department is in a period of change. It has been criticized for having a culture of brutality, and now the feds are stepping in. The Department of Justice determined after an extensive investigation that the city had engaged in a “pattern of excessive force,” and now the city will be under the oversight of an independent monitor as they try to clean up their own mess. [Read more…]

Seattle Police Agree to Federal Reforms and Monitoring

Just short of the July 31 deadline, Seattle officials agreed to the terms offered by the Justice Department—requiring federal oversight and reforms. Had the department not agreed, the feds were threatening a lawsuit. Now, Seattle residents can hope that significant changes will be made in an effort to repair a broken relationship between the department and the people they are paid to protect. [Read more…]