Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, Will Hear Oral Arguments at Gonzaga University Law School on October 13

The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, will hear oral arguments outside of its regular Spokane courtroom during a community visit to Gonzaga University Law School on October 13, 2026.

The hearings will begin at 12:00 p.m. in the Barbieri Courtroom at 721 N. Cincinnati St. Spokane, WA. The public is welcome to attend the oral arguments and ask questions about the role and operations of the Court of Appeals during the Q&A break and at the end of the session.

The Court of Appeals, Division III, is headquartered in Spokane, Washington. It hears appeals from trial courts across all Washington counties, with most cases originating from Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties

Division III Chief Judge Tracy Staab commented: "The Court of Appeals is honored to hold oral arguments at Gonzaga School of Law, providing students with a unique opportunity to observe the appellate process in action. Engaging with future members of the legal profession in an academic setting not only enhances transparency but also fosters a deeper understanding of the rule of law and judicial decision-making. These sessions offer an invaluable educational experience, allowing students to witness real cases, observe legal advocacy, and better appreciate the deliberative nature of appellate review. We are grateful to Gonzaga for hosting us and for their commitment to legal education and civic engagement."

Beginning at 12:00 p.m., Chief Judge Tracy Staab, Acting Judge John Cooney and Judge Hill will hear arguments in the following case:

• 414680 - Jerry Caldwell, Jr. v. Camp Automotive, Inc. - Issue Statement: Whether plaintiff-appellant's claims for breach of contract, negligence, breach of implied warranties, and violations of the Consumer Protection Act and Auto Dealers Practices Act were properly dismissed on summary judgment.
• 403262 - State of Washington v. Erick Gustavo Duran Uraga - Issue Statement: Whether the superior court was authorized to grant defense counsel's request for compensation following the Washington Supreme Court's adoption of General Rule 42?
• 409325 - Scott Millenach, et al v. Washington State Patrol, et al - Issue Statement: Whether the Employees' claims related to their terminations for declining to get the COVID-19 vaccine were properly dismissed.

Live TVW coverage can be viewed at: Division 3 Court of Appeals - TVW.

Web access to public documents for Criminal and Civil cases can be found at Washington State Courts - Appellate and Trial Courts. Each argument will last approximately 30 minutes. To allow for questions and answers, we will have a 15-20-minute break between the first and second case and again at the end of the session.

Since resuming community-based oral arguments in October 2022, the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III, has held sessions at eight high schools across Eastern Washington. These visits aim to promote civic education and connect students with the judicial process.

In recognition of this outreach, the Court received the Judge William Nevins Award in September 2023 for its commitment to community engagement and legal education.

For further information regarding the Court, visit the Washington Courts website at Washington State Courts - Appellate and Trial Courts.

Contact: Court of Appeals, Div. III Clerk Tristen Worthen, (509) 456-3082, [email protected].