SEATTLE, WA – On October 2, 2026, the Thurston County Superior Court ruled Senate Bill 5974 unconstitutional. The bill sought to give an unelected board the power to remove county sheriffs based on the sheriff’s statements and affiliations, and imposed limitations on which individuals could be elected to the role: an unprecedented requirement for publicly elected officials. A formal court order outlining the ruling is expected later this month. By affirming the bill to be unconstitutional, the Court maintains that the position of county sheriff is democratically chosen by a majority vote.Â
Carney Badley Spellman represented twelve sheriffs from Spokane, Yakima, Skagit, Chelan, Grant, Whitman, Mason, Stevens, Ferry, Pend Oreille, Okanogan, and Benton counties, who together represent over 1.2 million Washingtonians; with attorneys Mark Lamb, Rory Cosgrove, Ashley Burman, and Chris Kranda leading the legal team responsible for the victory. Â
Source: The Seattle TimesÂ
About Carney Badley Spellman
Carney Badley Spellman is a full-service law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with a longstanding reputation for strategic legal counsel and unwavering client advocacy. For decades, we’ve partnered with clients across industries and sectors ranging from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies and government entities, providing practical, results-oriented legal solutions.
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