Olympia 2025 / Public Safety
By Krist Novoselić (February 5, 2025)
House Bill 1252 proposes rules for judges when considering a pretrial release. Recent cases of released defendants resulted in those individuals vanishing, or committing acts of violence soon after their return to society.
HB 1252 requires a judge to state, in writing, their rationale for releasing a defendant if; at the time of the current offense or arrest, the defendant resisted arrest, attempted to elude a police vehicle, or substantial resources were required to apprehend the defendant.
In addition, the judge must specify how public safety will be ensured and how the defendant's appearance will be ensured, in light of the release order.
The court must submit the written findings to the administrative office of the courts on or before the next judicial day. Courts must maintain a database where these orders may be accessed by the public. The pretrial release reports must also be submitted to law enforcement, including prosecutors.
This bill seems to be a reaction to recent incidents involving King County judges. Judge Veronica Galván and Judge Johanna Bender, respectively, released defendants who, according to the reporting and nature of the case, seem like terrible people committing nasty offenses. The releases resulted in a negative reaction from victim's family and even law enforcement.
In one case in Renton, the police chief wrote a letter to Judge Bender expressing his concern over the release of an individual accused of a hit and run. According to Fox 13 News, the defendant in this case is, “now on the run”.
The nature of these crimes, and the resulting judicial decisions, are shining a light on what was a sleeper bill.
There is a rescheduled hearing for the house bill next week. (It has been reported the hearing scheduled for Feb 3rd was cancelled.) Prime sponsor is Seattle Democrat Lauren Davis (LD32), joined by Republicans Dan Griffey and Travis Couture, who both represent the 35th LD in the south Puget Sound.
The TV news linked above quotes Rep. Davis, “I live in the 6th most liberal district in the state”. Nevertheless, she is stressing public safety. “It’s the number one issue in the district” and “people don’t feel safe — and they have every reason to not feel safe”.
I asked a lobbyist in Olympia about HB 1252’s prospects of passing. He looked at the sponsors and said chances were slim. Partisanship strikes again!😩
Apparently, HB 1252 might not fit the current moods and mores of the Olympia majority. It sounds like the sponsor's constituents are more interested in living in safety today, than revisiting the ideology manifested in the chaotic summer of 2020. Nonetheless, the values of the Olympia majority are labeled as progressive.
It’s not a big ask for judges to state, in the course of their rulings, how public safety is affected. Judges are learned people, and writing is at the center of their craft.
Will HB 1252 really die in committee? If it does, it just shows that too many in Olympia are not really listening.
Krist Novoselić is a Cascade Party board Member, currently serving as Chair, and representing one of the at-large positions.
CASCADE PARTY of WASHINGTON
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Seattle, WA 98118