WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts announced yesterday, February 11, 2025, Washington Supreme Court justices will be in Bellingham during a 2-day visit to Western Washington University (WWU). During their visit, the justices are expected to answer questions from the public and hear arguments in 2 appellate cases.
The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions at the moderated Q&A panel on Wednesday, Feb. 19 beginning at 9:30 a.m., and is welcome to attend the oral arguments on Thursday, Feb. 20, beginning at 9 a.m. Both take place at the Wilson Library Reading Room. Members of the Court will also attend a reception hosted by the Whatcom County Bar Association.
– Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (February 11, 2025)
Since 1985, justices have regularly traveled to communities around Washington each year to hear real cases in community settings and answer questions from students and community members about the Supreme Court and the judicial branch. The Court first visited WWU in September of 1986.
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The following schedule has been provided.
- The public Q&A panel will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 in the Wilson Library Reading Room and will be moderated by Western Washington University Associate Professor Ceci Lopez, Director of the Center for Law, Diversity & Justice at the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies.
- On Thursday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. in the Wilson Library Reading Room, Chief Justice Stephens, Associate Chief Justice Charles Johnson, and Justices Barbara A. Madsen, Steven González, Sheryl Gordon McCloud, Mary Yu, Raquel Montoya-Lewis, G. Helen Whitener and newly elected Justice Sal Mungia will hear the following arguments:
- 9 a.m., Case # 1, State v. Thompson, 103338-9: Lester P. Thompson Jr. was charged with and then convicted of murdering Destinie Gates-Jackson in 2020. He unsuccessfully sought to subpoena Gates-Jackson’s medical records at trial. Gate-Jackson’s estate was allowed to intervene at trial to oppose his motion. Should the victim’s estate be allowed to intervene in Thompson’s appeal?
- 10 a.m., Case # 2, State v. Abrams, 103058-4: Once a person convicted of a crime has completed all the requirements of their sentence, they are entitled to a certificate of discharge. RCW 9.94A.637. Once a person has a certificate of discharge, they may apply to have those convictions vacated. RCW 9.94A.640. (1) is a person entitled to seek vacation when they are still incarcerated on a different conviction? (2) must a person seeking vacation offer evidence of rehabilitation?
From the organizers: All Washington Supreme Court oral arguments are open to the public, and are livestreamed by Washington’s Public Affairs network, TVW. Though cameras and video recorders are generally allowed, the Court asks that no flash, other lights or noisy film advance mechanisms be used during the hearings. Requests for interpreters can be sent to Washington Supreme Court Administrator Ashley Lipford at Ashley.Lipford@courts.wa.gov.
Contact: Administrative Office of the Courts Senior Communications Officer Lorrie Thompson, Lorrie.Thompson@courts.wa.gov, 360-705-5347; Western Washington University Associate Professor Ceci Lopez, Director of the Center for Law, Diversity & Justice, Ceci.Lopez@wwu.edu.
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