WCOG settles suit with redistricting commission

OLYMPIA — The Washington Coalition for Open Government and the Washington State Redistricting Commission agreed Thursday to settle a lawsuit brought by WCOG over alleged violations of the Open Public Meetings Act, according to a press release from WCOG.

The parties reached an agreement on a consent decree to present to Thurston County Superior Court for approval.

According to the release, the terms of the settlement include stipulations that the commission not conduct negotiations privately and make any final redistricting plan publicly available, as well as penalties of $500 per commissioner and open government training for future commissioners and staff.

The court would also deny WCOG’s request to invalidate the redistricting plan and district maps the commission transmitted to the state Supreme Court on Nov. 16.

The Washington Supreme Court had already issued an order in December 2021, affirming that plan, according to the release. The Legislature adopted the Redistricting Plan as amended on February 8, 2022

Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act, RCW 42.30.030, states “All meetings of the governing body of a public agency shall be open and public and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the governing of a public agency.”

The settlement acknowledges that the redistricting commission violated that law in its negotiations.