Washington

Washington is located in the Pacific Northwest and is named after George Washington. The state formed from the portion of the Washington Territory which was ceded by Britain in 1846 under the terms of the Oregon Treaty. The state was the 42nd admitted into the Union on November 11, 1889. The state is often referred to as Washington State to differentiate it from the Capital, Washington DC. Nearly 60% of the state’s population resides in Seattle and the local metropolitan area.

The state’s agricultural and farming industries are very strong. Production of apples, hops, pears, raspberries, and cherries, are among the highest in the US. Commercial fishing, manufacturing industries, and tourism, are all major contributors to the state’s economy.

Popular area attractions include Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Starbucks (home to the first Starbucks in the country), the Columbia River Gorge, Puget Sound, and Olympic National Park, are just a few of the many popular area attractions locals and tourists alike visit annually. Major company headquarters including Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, Nintendo of America, Bungie, Telecom (T-mobile), and Expedia, contribute to the workforce and state’s economy greatly. Universities in the state include the University of Washington, Washington State University, Gonzaga, Seattle University, and Highline College, among others.

The governmental structure of the State of Washington is established by the Constitution of the State of Washington. The executive is composed of the Governor, several other statewide elected officials and the Governor's cabinet. The Washington State Legislature consists of the House of Representatives and State Senate. The judiciary is composed of the Washington Supreme Court and lower courts. There is also local government, consisting of counties, municipalities and special districts.

 

The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the State. It can review lower court decisions, and it has original jurisdiction on complaints against state officers; additionally, all cases involving the death penalty are automatically reviewed by the Supreme Court. 

 

The Washington Court of Appeals is an intermediate level appellate court, and it hears appeals from a variety of sources.  The court is divided into three divisions, and judges are elected for six-year terms.  Cases are heard by a panel of three judges.  Washington superior courts have general jurisdiction, grouped by districts by counties.  Washington District courts and Municipal courts have limited jurisdiction involving misdemeanors and small actions.  The justices who serve on these courts are elected or appointed to serve four year terms.

The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) licenses and regulates attorneys. The Commission on Judicial Conduct investigates complaints against judges and can recommend judges be removed.  The commission consists of 11 members—two attorneys slected by the bar association, judges chosen by sitting judges, and six non-attorneys appointed by the Governor.

Policy developments, paid sick leave, labor and employment laws and legislation, and minimum wage laws are among the stories visitors to the National Law Review covers. Visitors can also read about state litigation, pending legislation, topics including Ban the Box legislation, and federal and state agency news. The National Law Review covers the latest news from the state of Washington and the US Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit.  

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Mar
4
2019
Federal Court Opinion Reminds Health Care Providers to Assess the Antitrust Risks of Competitor Affiliations McDermott Will & Emery
Feb
22
2019
Washington Bill Would Make Food and Other Brand Owners Responsible for Plastic Waste Keller and Heckman LLP
Feb
21
2019
Washington State Requests Input on PFAS Alternatives Assessment Keller and Heckman LLP
Feb
21
2019
Port of Ridgefield Sues Railroad, Takes Nothing Under MTCA Beveridge & Diamond PC
Feb
14
2019
Washington State Considers Comprehensive Data Privacy Act to Protect Personal Information Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Feb
2
2019
Attorneys General Petition EPA To Issue Asbestos Reporting Rule Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Jan
31
2019
Sammamish, Washington Declares Emergency After Ransomware Attack Robinson & Cole LLP
Jan
31
2019
New Washington State Privacy Bill Incorporates Some GDPR Concepts Faegre Drinker
Jan
18
2019
Employers Take Note: Minimum Wages Increase in States Across the Country Polsinelli PC
Jan
16
2019
The Employment Law Landscape in 2019 Proskauer Rose LLP
Jan
14
2019
Washington State Set to Substantially Increase the Salary Required for Exempt Status and Make Other Changes to White Collar Exemptions Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jan
10
2019
New Legislation Proposed In The State of Washington Pushes For Student-Athlete Compensation In Defiance of NCAA Bylaws Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jan
8
2019
Student loan servicing developments in California, Illinois, and Washington; legislation introduced in Virginia and New Mexico Ballard Spahr LLP
Jan
4
2019
Philadelphia Passes Fair Workweek Employment Standards for Retail, Hospitality, and Food Service Establishments Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jan
1
2019
Washington Supreme Court Adopts a Favorable Standard for Proving Knowledge of Protected Conduct Zuckerman Law
Dec
27
2018
Ninth Circuit Sends Conflict Between Representations of Authorized Insurer Agent and Certificate of Insurance to Washington Supreme Court Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Dec
11
2018
No Snow Days for Wage and Hour Issues Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Dec
11
2018
Two Federal Courts Issue Decisions Against EPA “Suspension” Rule, Reviving and Protecting Obama-era Waters Rule Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Dec
4
2018
Will Hemp-Derived CBD Be Fully Legal with Passage of the 2018 Farm Bill? Not Quite… Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Nov
14
2018
Post-Election, Oregon and Washington’s Proposed Soda Tax Bans Reach Different Results Keller and Heckman LLP
Nov
12
2018
Washington State Begins PFAS Alternatives Assessment Keller and Heckman LLP
Nov
3
2018
Litigation Turns Up the Heat on Agencies to Protect Salmon in the Pacific Northwest Beveridge & Diamond PC
Oct
30
2018
Paid Parental Leave: Exception or Trend? Much Shelist, P.C.
Oct
29
2018
Don’t Leave a Print: Biometric Compliance for Employers Polsinelli PC
Oct
22
2018
More Good News for FCRA Defendants – US District Court for the Western District of Washington Requires Plaintiff To Arbitrate FCRA Claims Against Loan Servicer Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Oct
18
2018
States are Immune from Suit Under the FCRA Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Oct
16
2018
Washington and Oregon to Vote on Soda and Food Tax Bans Keller and Heckman LLP
Oct
4
2018
Washington State AG Sues Debt Buyers for Operating Without a License Ballard Spahr LLP
Oct
1
2018
Insurers Must Pay Cost of Defending Case Stemming from Use of Famous Marathoner’s Name Foley & Lardner LLP
Oct
1
2018
Hydro Newsletter - Volume 5, Issue 10 Van Ness Feldman LLP
Oct
1
2018
Is Being Overweight an Impairment? Foley & Lardner LLP
Sep
20
2018
Ninth Circuit Creates New Challenge for Divisibility in Complex CERCLA Sites Beveridge & Diamond PC
Sep
20
2018
Washington State Governor Issues Executive Order Discouraging Arbitration Agreements and Class Action Waivers for Government Contractors Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Aug
24
2018
Forum Selection Clause Prevails Over State Securities Law Anti-Waiver Statute Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP
Aug
14
2018
Washington Law Restricts Employers’ Access to Medical Records in WLAD Cases Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Aug
11
2018
Ninth Circuit Directs EPA to Revoke all Tolerances and Cancel All Registrations for Chlorpyrifos Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Jul
23
2018
Invention Assignment Agreements – How to Avoid Pitfalls Foley & Lardner LLP
Jul
5
2018
Washington Law Limits Employer’s Right to Plaintiff’s Medical Records in Discrimination Cases Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jun
28
2018
State of Washington Executive Order May Be Preempted by FAA Ballard Spahr LLP
Jun
22
2018
Legal Whipsaw in Washington Sawmill Case: State Supreme Court Decision Fundamentally Changes the Scope of Liability Under the Model Toxics Control Act Beveridge & Diamond PC
Jun
16
2018
"Culvert Case" Affirmed - Potential Implications for Northwest Regulators and Private Parties K&L Gates
Jun
15
2018
Washington Governor Jay Inslee Launches a State-Level Epic Systems Backlash Faegre Drinker
Jun
11
2018
Ride-Sharing Services Lose Latest Trade Secret Battle Foley & Lardner LLP
Jun
11
2018
Seattle Ordinance Giving Drivers Right to Collectively Bargain Not Preempted by NLRA Jackson Lewis P.C.
May
31
2018
New Laws Place Additional Restrictions on Washington Employers Polsinelli PC
May
22
2018
Aquaculture Company’s Woes in Washington State Continue Keller and Heckman LLP
Apr
26
2018
Biometric Breakdown Part III – Sharing Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Apr
25
2018
Biometric Breakdown Part II – Collection Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Apr
20
2018
How the Ninth Circuit Big Fish Casino Decision Could Impact Online Free Casino Offerings Across the U.S. Dickinson Wright PLLC
Apr
20
2018
Washington State Legislature Passes Pay Equity and “Me Too” Legislation K&L Gates
 

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