Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

With Governor's Signature Likely on Lethal Injection Bill, Gregoire Moving Forward on Rupe and Other Death Penalty Cases

OLYMPIA With the Governor likely later today to sign legislation making lethal injection Washington's presumed method of execution, State Attorney General Christine Gregoire will ask a federal appeals court next week to dismiss a ruling that convicted double murderer Mitchell Rupe is too heavy to hang.

"Once the Governor OK's this new law, it will make the question of whether Mitchell Rupe is too heavy to hang a moot issue," Gregoire said.

High Court Upholds State’s Sexual Predator Law

Olympia - January 17, 2001 - The United States Supreme Court today held that a Washington civil-commitment law designed to protect the public and provide treatment for violent sexual predators is constitutional even if the law is applied to individuals in a manner that is punitive.

The court majority found that the treatment of a convicted rapist at the state’s Special Commitment Center can’t be used as grounds to overturn Washington’s civil-commitment law for sexually violent predators.

AG ADVISES ROSE BOWL FANS TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE BUYING BEFORE TAKING OFF FOR PASADENA

Olympia - December 17, 1997 - State Attorney General Christine Gregoire urges Washington State University Cougars, alumni and supporters to be wise consumers in the scramble for the few remaining tickets to the 1998 Rose Bowl game.

"Cougar fans have waited 67 years for this opportunity, and to keep this dream-come-true from turning into a nightmare, consumers and travel agents need to thoroughly understand what they are buying and selling," said Gregoire.

AG Seeks Talks to Address Dispute over Yakama Utility Assessment

OLYMPIA – The Attorney General’s Office today petitioned the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) to establish negotiations aimed at addressing a dispute over the nature of a utility assessment levied by the Yakama Nation.

The Attorney General’s Public Counsel section filed a petition with the WUTC asking it to establish a collaborative process in which interested parties and commission staff would attempt to address the disagreement.

Risk Management Task Force Releases Recommendations

Olympia – September 27, 2001 The Risk Management Task Force established by Attorney General Christine Gregoire and Governor Gary Locke has announced its recommendations for protecting the public and reducing the number of multi-million dollar lawsuits against the state.

The Task Force focused on ways to prevent the kinds of accidents or injuries that often lead to lawsuits "in an attempt to avoid human loss and suffering in the first place," according to the report released today.