The Brief
-
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller ruled key parts of Senate Bill 5974 unconstitutional on Oct. 2.
-
The ruling blocks requirements that sheriffs be at least 25 years old, have five years of law enforcement experience, and have no felony or gross misdemeanor convictions.
-
The ruling also blocks a provision that lets an appointed state commission remove an elected sheriff outside the standard recall process. The state plans to appeal.
KENNEWICK, Wash.— Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller ruled key parts of a Washington state law unconstitutional on Oct. 2, blocking new qualifications for sheriffs and a state process to remove elected sheriffs from office. The state plans to appeal.
Senate Bill 5974 would have required sheriffs to be at least 25 years old, have five years of law enforcement experience, and have no felony or gross misdemeanor convictions. The law also made losing state certification grounds for removal from office…