Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1953 NO. 40 >

County commissioners have no power to authorize county man power and equipment on private property for spraying gorse growth, even though the owners of said property pay for the chemicals used.

AGO 1961 NO. 49 >

None of the provisions of chapter 198, Laws of 1961, and chapter 20, Laws of 1961, Ex. Sess., authorizing "community colleges" applies to any school district presently operating an extended secondary program (so-called junior colleges) which does not elect to bring its program within the new legislation.

AGO 1953 NO. 123 >

Duties may be delegated to alternates, and the alternates have the same status as the department heads they represent.

AGO 1954 NO. 247 >

1.  The Pollution Control Commission does not have authority to seek injunctive relief against the zoning of areas for specific purposes. 2.  The commission may seek injunctive relief against the discharge of industrial wastes into waters of the state if such matter tends to pollute such waters. 3.  Whether or not the commission has the duty to seek injunctive relief in a specific case is a policy decision.

AGO 1953 NO. 463 >

The broad power granted court commissioners by the constitution has been specifically defined by the legislature, and does not include the power to perform marriage ceremonies.

AGO 1953 NO. 469 >

The lieutenant governor of the state of Washington has no legal authority to act as presiding officer of the state senate nor to cast the deciding vote in the state senate during the period in which he is serving as acting governor.

AGO 1953 NO. 486 >

The highway commission has full charge of operation and maintenance of toll bridges and toll ferries throughout the state, but the Toll Bridge Authority also has the power to operate the Puget Sound ferry system.