News Releases

Nearly 100 sites in Washington sites join DEA’S nationwide effort  OLYMPIA — The abuse of prescription drugs inflicts a deadly toll in Washington state. Painkillers, such as Oxycontin and Vicodin soothe chronic pain and improve lives.  But such painkillers are increasingly abused by those who mix them with other drugs and alcohol or even crush and smoke them for a quick — and sometimes deadly — high.  Unused or expired painkillers left in medicine cabinets are contributing to the problem.

SEATTLE—In January, a split panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 ruling in Farrakhan v. Gregoire, overturning Washington’s felon disenfranchisement law, holding that it violates the federal Voting Rights Act and granting convicted felons in Washington the right to vote from prison and while on community supervision.

SEATTLE – A Vancouver man who sells business cards and graphic design services over the Internet will refund customers who never received their orders under an agreement reached this month with the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

 DIY legal forms aren’t a substitute for an attorney SEATTLE – If you’ve watched cable TV, you’ve likely seen celebrity attorney Robert Shapiro tout his company, LegalZoom, as a way to start businesses, patent inventions and create wills. “We put the law on your side,” he says.

State Attorney General’s Office partners with Drug Enforcement Administration to promote prescription drug safety OLYMPIA — Prescription painkillers — often stolen and abused — are helping fuel an overdose epidemic in Washington state. Drug overdoses now kill more Washington residents than car accidents. Because of this epidemic, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other government, community, public health and law enforcement partners are working together to help the public safely dispose of expired or unused medications on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The DOJ today argued its motion to dismiss a multi-state lawsuit, brought by 20 states including Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Attorney General Rob McKenna, two individuals and the National Federation of Independent Business. The argument centered on whether the states and other plaintiffs even had a right to bring the case.

 McKenna will hold short telephonic media availability OLYMPIA — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will make its second argument before a US District Court judge this week as it continues to fend off constitutional challenges to the nation’s new health care law.

Confessed murderer and rapist Cal Coburn Brown was put to death by lethal injection at 12:56 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 10, 2010, at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

SEATTLE – If dreams of instant riches have you buying stacks of magazines in the hope that Prize Patrol will soon knock on your door, you may be disheartened to know that the only thing you’ve gained over other prize contestants is some reading material. Joining with his colleagues across the country, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a new agreement with a company famous for its sweepstakes promotions, Publishers Clearinghouse.

 SEATTLE – An Ohio-based window manufacturer has settled allegations over erroneous energy-savings claims. In a settlement with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Great Lakes Window, Inc. agrees not to make false or unsubstantiated representations about the energy efficiency of their window products.