Latest From ACLU of Washington

On April 15th, the Seattle University Law School hosted a CLE (continuing legal education) concerning police accountability and police misconduct issues. All of the speakers covered topics that addressed the current climate for accountability in Seattle and across Washington state. Overall, the presentations were frank, not only in what we are facing as a community and the importance of maintaining our civil rights, but also the nuts and bolts of the law.    

Today, two troubling news stories on medical marijuana are in the headlines in Washington. The first is the federal government's raids on medical marijuana dispensaries in Spokane. The second is Governor Gregoire's expected veto of SB 5073, the thoughtful and comprehensive medical marijuana bill passed by the state legislature with leadership from Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rep. Eileen Cody.

Have you experienced unnecessary or excessive force by the Seattle police in the past few years?  Or feel you were subjected to biased or discriminatory policing or racial profiling?  Then the U.S. Department of Justice wants to hear from you! 

Abuse of prescription opiates (powerful pain killers) and rising overdose death rates are a huge problem in Washington and across the nation. Since 2007, overdoses have been the leading cause of accidental injury death in Washington, ahead of motor vehicle and firearm accidents. Harm reduction strategies should be included as part of the federal response for combating this crisis.

University of Washington Law School prof Ronald Collins and coauthor Sam Chaltain have come out with a new book of interest to anyone who cares about freedom of speech. We Must Not Afraid to Be Free: Stories of Free Expression in America (Oxford U. Press) explore some of the challenging issues and colorful individuals involved in important controversies over what free speech means in America.