KCLL Klues: Washington State Legal Research » Rick

Blog Reflects on Joseph Self’s Execution

Rick — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:42:04 +0000

Mike Flynn, long-time editor of the Puget Sound Business Journal, was one 35 people who witnessed the hanging of convicted murderer Joseph Self in June of 1963. Mr. Flynn has posted a thoughtful reflection about the execution and capital punishment in Washington State at Flynn’s Harp . For more information about the Self case, see our recent podcast, wherein local attorney George Sjursen interviews one of Self’s defense attorneys, Dan Riviera.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Rick — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:30:21 +0000

For those of you who are eager to read through the final version of the massive and hotly-contested Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law by President Obama on July 21st, here’s a set of useful links.

As of this writing, the text of Public Law 111-203 wasn’t available but the Library of Congress’ THOMAS web site has a wealth of information about the legislation, including the final text of the bill presented to President Obama and a Congressional Research Service summary.

The White House has also posted the President’s remarks about the new law and a brief Executive summary of its intent.

New Cell Phone Ticket Citations Update

Rick — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:00:34 +0000

The Department of Licensing (DOL) recently discovered that the State’s Model Traffic Ordinance (MTO) has not been updated to reflect new traffic laws since 2004. This may lead to the dismissal of certain trafffic citations issued by municipalities with traffic codes based on the MTO. For more information directly from DOL, see their July 15 blog posting.

For more information about the enabling statute for the MTO, see RCW 46.90. To read the text of the MTO, see WAC 308-330.

Library Catalog Down For Maintenance on 7/16

Rick — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:17:15 +0000

Our EOS.Web library catalog will be down from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, July 16 for routine maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

New Partnership and LLC Deskbook Available

Rick — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:43:25 +0000

KCLL now has copies of the WSBA‘s new Partnership and Limited Liability Company Deskbook for your use. We’re happy to see this addition to the State Bar’s valuable deskbook series because it has been some time since this area of law was addressed. Together with WSBA’s Washington Business Corporations Act (RCW 23B) Sourcebook and LexisNexis’ Washington Business Entities: Law and Forms, we now have a set of materials that provide comprehensive coverage of business formation issues.

Divorce Class on Wednesday 7/14 postponed until Wednesday 7/21

Rick — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:30:50 +0000

The Divorce Class scheduled for this Wednesday evening has been postponed until the following Wednesday 7/21. Please call the library if you have any questions.

Understanding Our State Budget Process

Rick — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:19:24 +0000

The State’s annual budget has a tremendous affect on all of us but understanding how it’s derived can be tricky. Fortunately, the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee publishes a good guide to the State’s budgeting process called Citizen’s Guide to The Budget. The Guide uses a series of hypothetical questions to walk you through the major components of the budget and the budget planning process.

Don’t Forget SupportCalc!

Rick — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:44:54 +0000

Just a reminder that we recently installed copies of SupportCalc in both of our branches. SupportCalc is professional child support calculation software from Legal+Plus . The version we’ve installed allows you to create new SupportCalc files and open/edit files you’ve already created back at the office. You can also print completed files — at a minimal charge of 15 cents per page — and/or save them to your own USB drive.

Facts About Flag Lowering

Rick — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:55:41 +0000

You see it periodically: a flag at a courthouse, public school or other state government building flying at half-staff. You understand it probably has something to do with honoring the service of a prominent person who has recently died or commemorating an historic event. But who decides what circumstances trigger this?

At the State level, it’s the Office of the Governor. The Governor’s web site includes a link to a page devoted to the rules for flag lowering. There you will find the conditions when it is appropriate to fly the flag at half-staff and information about recent requests by the Governor to do so. The page also includes links to additional information about the Washington State and United States flags and to Title 4 of the US Code, which describes the proper use and display of our national flag.

It’s interesting to note that while we’re supposed to fly the flag at half-staff on Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day (Dec. 7) and Patriot Day (September 11), we’re not supposed to do so on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

Updated Guide for District and Municipal Court Practice

Rick — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:58:28 +0000

Finding up-to-date information about procedures in District and Municipal courts–what our State collectively calls Courts of Limited Jurisdiction–is always difficult so we were very happy to see the arrival of AOC’s new Manual for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (12/2009). The Manual includes substantial sections on civil, criminal and special proceedings such as domestic violence but it also includes sections about the history of limited jurisdiction courts in Washington, RALJ and De Novo appeals, contempt of court, fish and wildlife violations and even a small section on legal research. It’s an excellent addition to the other materials we use for research in this area and something you should review if you are working with a District or Municipal court. The Manual is not available directly on the Internet but is shelved in both of our branches at KFW 516 .C68 M36.