Washington Supreme Court Justices Will Hear Cases, Answer Questions at Colville Confederated Tribes on Sept. 24

Washington Supreme Court Justices Will Hear Cases, Answer Questions at Colville Confederated Tribes on Sept. 24

Washington Supreme Court justices will hear arguments in two cases and answer questions from the public during a two-day visit to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Sept. 23-24 as part of the Traveling Court outreach program. This will be the Court's second visit to the Colville Reservation. The first was in May 2018.

On September 24, the Court will hear oral arguments in two cases at the Lucy F. Covington Government Center in Nespelem, then will answer questions from the audience. Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend and ask questions. The arguments will also be livestreamed by TVW.

As part of the two-day visit, on Sept. 23 justices will visit with reservation high school students, tribal court officials, and invited members of the bar and community.

"We, as a statewide court, want to ensure that we travel throughout the state, to rural areas and urban areas, eastern Washington and western Washington, Indian reservations and non-reservation land," said Justice Salvador Mungia, chair of the Traveling Court Committee. "We want Washingtonians to have the opportunity to see attorneys argue cases that affect the entire state. We appreciate hearing the thoughts and concerns of those who live throughout the state. Our trip to the Colville Reservation gives us another chance to promote all these goals."

The Traveling Court program began in 1985 to allow justices to visit communities around Washington each year. The justices hear real cases in community settings and answer questions from students and community members about the operations of the Supreme Court and the judicial branch. Over the years, it has expanded to include regular class visits, forums, and other types of community engagement.

"The Traveling Court program is a great opportunity for people to come out and see how the Washington Supreme Court does its work," said Confederated Tribes of the Colville Chairwoman Cindy Marchand. "The Colville Tribes are honored to host the Court for a second time."

Learn more about the Traveling Court program on the program's web page, which includes a new short video about the visit to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation as well as educational flyers, booklets and links to more information about Supreme Court justices and operations.

Oral arguments on Sept. 24 will take place at the Lucy F. Covington Government Center, 21 Colville Street, Nespelem, WA 99155, beginning at 9 a.m. Chief Justice Debra Stephens, Associate Chief Justice Charles W. Johnson, and Justices Steven González, Sheryl Gordon McCloud, Raquel Montoya-Lewis, G. Helen Whitener, Salvador Mungia, Colleen Melody and Theodore Angelis will hear the following cases:

1. 9 a.m., Case # 1, 104961-7, A.S. v. Provail - In this case, the court will decide is whether the plaintiff is entitled to recover damages under the Washington Law Against Discrimination when the defendant's employee sexually assaulted her. The central issue is whether the assault fell within the definition of a "place of public accommodation" as defined by the statute.
   
2. 10 a.m. Case #2, 105054-2, State v. Ianniciello - In this prosecution for first degree murder, the court will decide whether the prosecutor violated the defendant's constitutional right to remain silent. In this case, the state used testimony that the defendant did not tell the police about her husband's death and did not ask the police about the status of their investigation into his death before she was arrested for his murder.

All Washington Supreme Court oral arguments are open to the public, and are livestreamed by Washington's Public Affairs network, TVW. Though cameras and video recorders are generally allowed, the Court asks that no flash, other lights or noisy film advance mechanisms be used during the hearings. Requests for interpreters can be sent to Washington Supreme Court Administrator Ashley Lipford at [email protected].