Sanders v. State,139 Wn. App. 200; 159 P.3d 479 (Wash. 2007), aff’d Sanders v. State, 166 Wn.2d 164 (Wash. 2009)
A state Supreme Court justice was accused of misconduct and requested legal representation by the Attorney General’s office in connection with the proceedings of the Commission on Judicial Conduct (Commission) and while prosecuting the appeal from those findings. The Attorney General rejected the Justice’s request and the Justice brought a declaratory judgment action seeking reimbursement…
Five Corners Family Farmers v. State, 173 Wn.2d 296, 308 (Wash. 2011)
The Washington Supreme Court articulated three reasons for giving weight to attorney general opinions: First, such opinions represent the considered legal opinion of the constitutionally designated “legal adviser of the state officers.” Second, we presume that the legislature is aware of formal opinions issued by the attorney general and a failure to amend the statute…
Goldmark v. McKenna,172 Wn.2d 568; 259 P.3d 1095
The Attorney General of Washington pursued a condemnation action for the state’s Commissioner of Public Lands. The state lost the case at the trial court level, and the Attorney General declined to appeal, based on his evaluation of the merits of the case. The Commissioner sought a writ of mandamus to compel the Attorney General…
