News – Page 2 – NWSidebar

Lessons From Earth to Outer Space: Space Law, Elon Musk, and the Future of Mars

The history of space law can be traced to competition among developed countries that demanded new ground for growing political pretensions.

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Honoring Veterans in Washington State Bar News

Each November we dedicate a day to pause and reflect on our veterans. In the latest issue of Washington State Bar News, we’ve done just that. In recognition of Veterans Day, we’re sharing stories that focus on issues affecting service members, their families, and the legal professionals who make serving veterans their duty. Members of the WSBA Legal Assistance to Military Personnel Section help explain its origins and what its section members do

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When the Feds Came to Town: An Interview with Former Oregon Federal Public Defender Steve Wax

Steve Wax, legal director for the Oregon Innocence Project and Oregon federal public defender from 1983 to 2014, has called for convening a grand jury inquiry into the the federal response to protests in Portland. We spoke with Wax to better clarify the questions behind the legal actions that took place.

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WSBA Chief Disciplinary Counsel Receives National Bar Counsel Award

WSBA Chief Disciplinary Counsel Doug Ende is an eclectic personality on top of being a meticulous and measured legal ethics professional. This certainly was not lost on the National Organization of Bar Counsel (NOBC), which presented Ende with the 2020 NOBC President’s Award virtually on July 30.

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When Court is Back in Session: The Plan for Washington Courts to Resume During COVID-19

Everything from social distancing in a jury trial to managing a backlog of cases remain top of mind for officials at all levels of the state court system. A review of county superior court websites reveals that many courts continue to prioritize virtual proceedings while developing methods to handle in-person interactions safely.

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Are You Prepared for a Pandemic?

COVID-19, especially in Washington state, poses a threat on the legal profession and the world. We dive into the current circumstances and look at ways to prepare for pandemic.

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Taming the Skies: What’s on the Itinerary for Service Animals and Airlines

Jonathan Ko dives into the USDOT’s recently proposed changes to regulations for service animals on commercial flights. Spoiler: pigs actually wouldn’t fly.

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Legislative Disclosure: Impacts and Implications of AP v. Washington Legislature

For years, agencies calling for sensible Public Records Act reform have remarked that change would not come until the state’s lawmakers were also subject to the PRA. That day finally arrived on Dec. 19, 2019, when the Washington Supreme Court issued its opinion in Associated Press et al. v. Washington State Legislature, et al.

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Legislative Update re: HB 1788

WSBA members may have seen that HB 1788 was pulled from the Rules Committee and placed on third reading, which means that it will receive a floor vote in the House in the next several days.

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The Top 10 Most Popular NWSidebar Articles in 2019

As the hub for voices of Washington’s legal community, the content on this blog is as varied as WSBA members themselves.

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Leading Criminal Justice Reform with LEAD in the November NWLawyer

In the November issue of NWLawyer we meet Lisa Daugaard, a 2019 MacArthur fellow who is reforming the criminal justice system. And we take a trip around the world in nine ways with WSBA members sharing their experiences practicing law from the Czech Republic to Nigeria and beyond.

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To GRE or not to GRE? Seattle University Test Pilots GRE for Law School Admissions

Seattle University School of Law’s Gregory Silverman sheds light on the school’s plan to get on board with an emerging trend in admissions.

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Court of Appeals: New Standard in Disqualification for Former Client Conflicts

Washington’s Court of Appeals recently issued a significant decision applying a new standard for former client conflicts in the disqualification context.

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NWLawyer Treks into Tech and the Law

Technology is exciting and inspiring, but for legal professionals it’s also daunting. How does a modern lawyer navigate ethically sticky and existentially bizarre questions that new tech imposes on existing law?

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The Hottest Legal News in the Summer Issue of NWLawyer

From corner to corner, Washington state is a geographic and geologic smorgasbord encompassing densely packed forest and glacial-carved craggy mountain peaks, copper-colored grasslands and scrubby deserts, crushed urban jungles and placid fertile hills. And Washington’s legal community is equally varied in what they love about where they work, from folks looking to escape the perpetually […]

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A New Standard for Overtime in Washington? State Looks to Expand Overtime Eligibility

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) recently filed a proposed rule that would dramatically increase the minimum salary required for employees to qualify for the white collar overtime exemptions.