Location and Hours
Community Building
35 West Main, Suite 300
Spokane, Washington 99201
(509) 835-5211
The Center for Justice is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except during the noon hour and on court holidays.
Breaking News
Dumping On The Falls
Avista begins dredging the Monroe Street dam, drawing protests from the Sierra Club and the Center for Justice.
Read Dumping On The FallsPrivacy and Predatory Teachers
In a 5-3 decision, the Washington Supreme Court rules that the public does not get to know the identities of teachers accused of “unsubstantiated” sexual misconduct.
Read Privacy and Predatory TeachersOut of the Box
Center’s lawyers team up with Futurewise and neighborhood groups to fight Spokane’s Southgate “Big Box” decision.
Read Out of the BoxChasing the Metadata
State appeals court rules that information about information is covered by Washington’s public records law.
Read Chasing the MetadataCleaning It Up
Sierra Club, working with Center for Justice attorneys, agrees to settlement with City of Spokane that avoids Clean Water Act lawsuit over direct sewage discharges to the Spokane River.
Read Cleaning It UpMark Richard Responds
Commissioner won’t answer our questions about a public meetings policy that he “lost track” of and no longer supports.
Read Mark Richard RespondsA Guantanamo Sequel
In the wake of Boumediene v. Bush, a U.S. Appeals Court lays down a withering treatise on power and due process in the case of Huzaifa Parhat.
Read A Guantanamo SequelHip Deep In Hoops
How could we not rise in awe (and snap a few pictures) when our downtown neighborhood became the epicenter of the basketball universe for a weekend?
Read Hip Deep In HoopsSupreme Court Puts A Bullet in Gun Control
In the final decision of its 2007-2008 term, a Justice Scalia-led court majority castigates those who think the Second Amendment’s preface constrains an individual’s right to possess firearms.
Read Supreme Court Puts A Bullet in Gun ControlIt’s Heather
The Center’s new development director has Northwest roots, a sterling resumé, and a passion for what it is we do.
Read It’s HeatherThe Guild Weighs In
KXLY-TV broke news Saturday night of the Spokane Police Guild’s overwhelming vote in favor of an Office of Police Ombudsman. The broadcast included a critique of the deal from the Center’s Breean Beggs.
Read The Guild Weighs InThe Case for Walking Off
A unanimous Washington Supreme Court says leaving an “unbearable” boss should not automatically disqualify you for unemployment insurance.
Read The Case for Walking OffTaguba’s Question
In the preface to a new Physicians for Human Rights report on former U.S. detainees, the General who led the Army’s investigation into Abu Ghraib is accusing the White House of war crimes and asking when the accountability will come.
Read Taguba’s QuestionHabeas Rules
In what the New York Times is heralding as a “historic” ruling on the balance between liberty and security, the U.S. Supreme Court decides 5 to 4 that Guantanamo detainees have the habeas corpus right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts.
Read Habeas RulesTwo Eggs, Orange Juice, And A Dry Riverbed
Ecology’s landmark decision on Avista dams punts on the river’s problems and leaves Spokane’s signature waterfalls retreating to a bare trickle on summer mornings.
Read Two Eggs, Orange Juice, And A Dry RiverbedTell It To The Fish
Idaho agency’s new ruling on Avista’s upper Spokane River water flows is better news for Lake Coeur d’Alene’s dock owners than it is for the river’s struggling red band trout population.
Read Tell It To The FishA Publisher’s New Problem
New documents uncovered by a Center for Justice records request highlight a big problem for Cowles Co.’s newsprint subsidiary and its discharges to the Spokane River.
Read A Publisher’s New ProblemGlass Half Full
State Auditor’s probe of thirty Washington agencies’ compliance with public records law finds mostly “good” customer service along with “trouble spots.” Report also questions City of Spokane’s “attitude” and criticizes Thurston County’s overbearing monitoring of auditor’s investigation.
Read Glass Half FullDishonorable Discharge
Spill from notorious Canadian polluter Teck Cominco sends lead and acid into Columbia River.
Read Dishonorable DischargeWhere’d That Policy Go?
Center takes up cause of Spokane photographer Don Hamilton in open meetings spat with Spokane County officials.
Read Where’d That Policy Go?Serious Push Back on Military’s Gay Ban
U.S. Appeals Court ruling in case of Spokane’s Major Margaret Witt is a challenge to military powers under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Read Serious Push Back on Military’s Gay BanU.S. Appeals Court Tosses I-297
In a new setback to Washington’s efforts to impose restrictions on the disposal of hazardous and radioactive wastes at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal district court decision that Washington’s Cleanup Priority Act (CPA) interferes with federal prerogatives in regulating radioactive wastes.
Read U.S. Appeals Court Tosses I-297Center Settles Yelm Open Meetings Case
Fire district agreement is second settlement among five open government cases filed in March
Read Center Settles Yelm Open Meetings CaseA Clear Message from Boise
In his appearance before the Spokane City Council, Boise police ombudsman Pierce Murphy avoided direct criticism of Spokane’s “tentative agreement” with its police guild. But he did stress the importance of independent investigative powers for gaining public confidence.
Read A Clear Message from BoiseJudge Dismisses Harris Records Suit
In a clear setback for the Center for Justice and the Neighborhood Alliance of Spokane, a Lincoln County Superior Court judge has dismissed the Alliance’s two year old public records suit against Spokane County.
Read Judge Dismisses Harris Records SuitCFJ, Ridgefield Settle Open Meetings Case
In unusual twist, prompt settlement includes funds for new park.
Read CFJ, Ridgefield Settle Open Meetings CaseLisa Hanneman Gets Her Settlement
State concludes agreement that includes payment and reforms for handling custody cases
Read Lisa Hanneman Gets Her Settlement