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Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

Attorney General's Office Files Response in I-695 cases

Olympia - February 9, 2000 - the Attorney General's Office today filed the state's response in five of the seven King County Superior Court cases that have raised constitutional or other legal challenges to Initiative 695.

The AG's Office, which is defending the initiative on behalf of the state, filed a cross-motion for summary judgment and a memorandum in opposition to the plaintiffs' motions for summary judgment. Oral argument on the motions and cross motions is scheduled March 6 before King County Superior Court Judge Robert Alsdorf.

State Sues HomeBase Over 'Going Out of Business' Sales

SPOKANE - May 23, 2001 - The Attorney General's Office today asked a court to order the HomeBase home-improvement stores in Washington to close their doors and halt further going-out-of-business sales in Washington after May 29.

In a lawsuit filed in Spokane County Superior Court, the state alleges the chain violated the state's Going Out of Business Sales Act, which, among other things, limits the length of going-out-of business sales to 60 days.

UPDATE: IBP report sent to Walla Walla County prosecutor for review

OLYMPIA - A criminal investigative report on alleged animal cruelty and violations of the Humane Slaughter Act at a southeast Washington meatpacking plant today was forwarded to the Walla Walla County prosecuting attorney.

The action follows Gov. Gary Locke's request last June that an inter-agency team review slaughtering practices at the IBP plant in Wallula to determine if animal-cruelty, humane slaughter, worker-safety or food-safety violations may have occurred there.

AG's Statement on Supreme Court Opinion in I-722 Case

Olympia - September 20, 2001 - Today the state Supreme Court unanimously held that Initiative 722 is unconstitutional because it asked voters to consider two unrelated subjects in the same bill, a violation of Article II, Section 19 of the state Constitution. The Attorney General's Office defended the Initiative, as it does all laws passed by the Legislature or by the people through the initiative process. We believe the decision was based on thorough arguments by all parties.

State Supreme Court Upholds I-776, Clarifies Single-Subject Question

OLYMPIA - Today's state Supreme Court decision upholding Initiative 776 will help the drafters of future initiatives by clarifying the state constitutional requirement that initiatives contain only a single subject, Attorney General Christine Gregoire said.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court's majority agreed with the state that the single subject I-776 put before voters was whether to limit the cost of vehicle license tabs to $30 per year. Additional statements contained in the initiative were "policy expressions" that had no legal effect, the court majority said.

AG Will Appeal I-776 Decision to State Supreme Court

OLYMPIA -- The Attorney General's Office today notified state courts that it will seek state Supreme Court review of a King County Superior Court ruling that Initiative 776 is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire said she wants the Supreme Court to review the decision in order to more quickly resolve important legal questions concerning the initiative. King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu's Feb. 10 decision raised issues that have never been addressed by the Supreme Court, Gregoire said.

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