Washington Supreme Court comes to Big Bend

MOSES LAKE — The community is invited to Big Bend Community College today and Tuesday, as the Washington State Supreme Court justices visit with students and hear oral arguments from a different bench.

The justices have made community visits throughout the state since 1985 to offer advice and insight to students interested in legal careers. The justices are having lunch with Big Bend students and speaking to several classes in pairs this week.

They are holding a student forum today and open court sessions Tuesday. Both events are free and open to the public.

“The opportunity to greet the court and observe it performing its constitutional function will be an important and memorable occasion for everyone throughout the college district,” said Dr. Bill Bonaudi, Big Bend president.

Today, the justices are going to several classrooms in the afternoon to speak with students and answer questions. There is an open forum at 2:15 p.m. in the Masto Conference Center on topics such as police searches, death with dignity laws in Washington state, gay marriage and divorce and state-sponsored healthcare reform lawsuits.

Justices are also attending a reception with the Grant County Bar Association later in the afternoon.

Tuesday’s oral arguments began at 9 a.m. in Big Bend’s Masto Conference Center. Justices are taking a break to have lunch with students at noon and will reconvene at 1:30 p.m.

Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, Associate Chief Justice Charles Johnson, Justice Gerry Alexander, Justice Richard Sanders, Justice Tom Chambers, Justice Susan Owens, Justice Mary Fairhurst, Justice James Johnson and Justice Debra Stephens are hearing arguments in the following cases:

• Personal Restraint Petition of Vincent R. Adolph:

The court is looking at Vincent Adolph’s personal restraint petition barred for procedural reasons and examining evidence presented to the trial court surrounding Adolph’s DUI charge.

• State of Washington v. William Austin Brousseau:

A trial court conducted a child competency hearing without the child’s own testimony. The court examines whether due process laws were violated during the hearing.

Lawyers are arguing whether a child-hearsay statute requires a child witness to testify at a pretrial hearing.

• Rizwana Rahman v. State of Washington:

The impending question surrounding the case asks, is the state vicariously liable for injuries suffered by an unauthorized passenger riding in a state-owned vehicle being used for state business?

Following arguments in the three cases, the justices are answering questions from the audience before recessing to conference on the cases. Cameras and video recorders are allowed, but the court asks that no flash, other lights or noisy film be used during the hearings.

The oral arguments are going to be recorded by Olympia’s public affairs network TVW and aired at later dates. For more information, visit www.tvw.org.

Written opinions are rendered approximately three to six months after oral arguments. For further information regarding the Court, visit the Washington Courts web site at www.courts.wa.gov.

Big Bend Community College is located at, 7662 Chanute St. N.E.

For more information, call 509- 793-2222.