December 23, 2020  

Inslee announces eviction moratorium extension 

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced he will extend the eviction moratorium to March 31, 2021. The current eviction moratorium was set to expire on December 31.

"COVID-19 has had a significant financial impact on Washingtonians over the last nine months," Inslee said. "I know this moratorium has been critical for many families and individuals as they cope with the impacts of this virus. People need certainty about whether the moratorium will be extended, and it is important that I provide that certainty today while we work out the final details of the moratorium."

Additional details and a full announcement will come next week. 

December 21, 2020

Proclamation 20-83: COVID-19 Prohibitions on Travel from Countries with 501Y.V Variant Circulation

Today Gov. Jay Inslee issued a 14-day quarantine requirement for anyone returning to Washington state after visiting the United Kingdom, South Africa and other countries where a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 501Y.V, has been circulating.

Health experts believe this new variant may be more transmissible than other variants. The order applies to anyone who has been present in these countries within the prior 14 days. An individual is permitted to leave quarantine to perform certain essential activities (for example, seek medical treatment), provided that they avoid public transportation and ride-share services, wear a facial covering, separate themselves from other people to the greatest extent reasonably possible, and follow other appropriate social distancing measures. All individuals who are impacted by this order are strongly encouraged to be tested within seven days of returning to Washington.

The full proclamation is available here.

Proclamation 20-25.10: Stay Safe, Stay Healthy

Gov. Inslee also updated Proclamation 20-25 and related guidance for houses of worship, weddings, and funerals. Currently, houses of worship are permitted to hold indoor services with up to 25% room capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer.

The 200 person maximum attendance cap is being removed in response to the December 15, 2020 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak, which struck down Nevada’s 50-person attendance caps, interpreting the Supreme Court’s decision in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo to represent a ‘seismic shift in Free Exercise law.’ 

Because the Governor believes the attendance cap will help save lives, he is converting the required 200-person cap to a recommended cap. The Governor recognizes and respects that it is the role of the courts to say what the law is. The Governor does not intend to re-impose mandatory numerical caps specific to religious services unless the Ninth Circuit or the Supreme Court clarifies the state of the law. Other minor modifications are made to align the guidance documents and the proclamation related to music and singing.

The full proclamation is available here.

December 20, 2020

Inslee announces authorization of Moderna vaccine by Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

The announcement comes after the FDA and CDC granted their initial authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The Western States Workgroup, comprised of vaccine experts from Washington, California, Oregon and Nevada, have been meeting to review the data and analysis to ensure the safety and efficacy of both the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines federally authorized. The Pfizer vaccine was authorized last week and is already being administered throughout Washington state. 

“I’m pleased that the Western States Workgroup gave their unanimous recommendation to the Moderna vaccine today and encourages immediate use of the vaccine in our states,” Inslee said. “Having two vaccines to combat COVID-19 will help us begin to recover from this destructive pandemic.”

Workgroup members hope that their independent review inspires confidence in Washingtonians around the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. 

The first of the Moderna vaccine doses are expected to start arriving from the federal government this week. The storage and handling of this vaccine is logistically easier and should help get the vaccine to all areas of the state.

“We still need to be extremely vigilant in taking care of each other until the vaccine is widely available, which will still be several months from now,” Inslee said. “We must continue masking, physical distancing and not gathering with friends and family, especially during this holiday season. Our disease activity remains high, and we must work together to keep each other safe.”

Website link

press@updates.gov.wa.gov 

December 17, 2020

Inslee releases 2021 – 2023 budget proposal

Gov. Inslee announced the details of his 2021 – 2023 biennial budget proposal Thursday, which included significant funding for public health, economic supports for workers and businesses, and other services that Washingtonians need to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19.

"We must invest in the relief, recovery and resilience of Washington. We cannot cut the things that we need most during a pandemic," Inslee said during a press conference Thursday. "In my proposed operating, capital and transportation budgets, I am investing in the people of our state."

Inslee’s budget proposals would:

• Continue an aggressive response to the ongoing pandemic and build more capacity for tackling future public health crises.

• Rebuild the state’s economy and continue efforts to support households, students, workers and businesses impacted by the pandemic.

• Address racial and economic inequity.

• Protect previous investments in areas such as education, childcare and early learning, climate action, behavioral health reform, combating homelessness and access to health care.

Read the rest of the story on the governor's Medium page.

Read the proposed 2021 – 2023 Budget and Policy Highlights.

Read the Health and Economy policy brief.

 

Website link

press@updates.gov.wa.gov

Please submit comments or position statements to the WA Supreme Court about their decision to sunset the LLLT Program in Washington state.  

 supreme@courts.wa.gov

Here's a link to the WA state bar association's LLLT webpage to read their updates on the situation.

If you'd like to submit your comments as an addendum to the WSPA position statement, please email info@wspaonline.org

Let our voices be heard! And may we be the voice for those that need us most.

We are co-sponsor for the CLE program put on by the Seattle University Law School on October 7, 2016 from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm.  

Information on the program and how to register can be found here.

SPRING CLE SEMINAR &

ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON

May 21, 2016 from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm

First Floor Conference Room, 901 5th Avenue, Seattle

The CLE schedule includes:

• Deposition and Technology: Changes Impacting the Practice of Law, Steve Crandall, CEO, Prolumina
• Litigation Dynamics: How Paralegals and Attorneys Can Work Better Together, Boyoon Choi, Choi Capital Law, PLLC
• Ethics in Discovery for Paralegal, Rachel Saimons, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

The luncheon program will feature:

• Introduction of new WSPA Officers and Directors
• Paralegal Awards
• Introduction of the newest LLLT, RP, CRPs

Also during the seminar:

• Legal service providers with products and information
• Silent Auction with proceeds going to WSPA CLE seminars
• Delicious lunch included with registration fee

Registration is only $50 for members and $75 for non-members.

Register here.  

Space is limited, so register early!

Save the Date

Call for Speakers and Topics

Do you know a dynamic speaker? Is there a topic you have been waiting to learn more about? We would love to hear your suggestions! Email ideas for speakers and/or topics for the spring CLE to Brenda Cothary. Send your ideas by April 10.

We look forward to seeing you at the Spring CLE on May 21! Registration details will follow soon.

The public is invited to bring their legal questions to the 22nd annual Law Day – Free Legal Advice Clinic on Thursday, April 28, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Skagit Transit Station in downtown Mount Vernon. 

A free divorce seminar will also be hosted at 2:00 p.m. at the Skagit County Superior Court, Hearing Room C.  Law Day is celebrated nationally each year to promote the importance of the rule of law to a free society.

This event is a walk-in clinic. All patrons will be served on a first come first serve basis.  For more information please call, (360) 416-7585 (se habla espanol).

Event Sponsors:

Community Action of Skagit County -Volunteer Lawyer Program, the Washington State Paralegal Association- Northwest Chapter, and the Skagit County Law Library.

We are currently recruiting legal assistants, paralegals, paralegal students and attorneys for Law Day. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Alicia Engstrom at (360)540-459 or by email at alicia.engstrom@yahoo.com.  Thank you.