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Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill 28-21

2/1/2012

The Washington State Senate voted 28 to 21 to legalize civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples in the state of Washington, providing equal treatment for all loving and committed families. We applaud Senators Fain, Hill, and Hatfield who joined in supporting the legislation tonight.

The bill now goes to the Washington House. The Governor has promised to sign the legislation into law as soon as it reaches her desk.

We are thrilled to be part Washington United for Marriage, a coalition dedicated to making marriage equality a reality for all Washingtonians.

More

 

Washington Senate has Enough Votes to Pass Marriage Equality

1/23/2012

Today, we learned that the Washington State Senate has the 25th vote necessary to pass the marriage equality bill. Senator Mary Margaret Haugen joined the ranks of other Washington State Senators who believe now is the time to make marriage equality a reality for lesbian and gay couples in our state. Since Governor Chris Gregoire declared her support for marriage equality in Washington, the momentum has kept building!

There are now enough votes in both the Washington House and Senate to make this landmark legislation a reality. Some Legal Voice staff and supporters are in Olympia today testifying for marriage equality. There are many courageous men, women and children expressing their support.

More

 

Community Forums scheduled to discuss the Paid Sick/Safe Leave Ordinance

1/23/2012

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) has scheduled three opportunities in January/February 2012 to hear the public's questions and suggestions regarding implementation of the ordinance, and to make sure that the Rules address these topics. All events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, January 24, 2-3:30 p.m.
Seattle City Hall, Bertha Landis Room

 

 

Wednesday, February 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
Roosevelt High School, The Commons Room, 1410 NE 66th St.

Thursday, February 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jefferson Community Center, Hassselburg Hall, 3801 Beacon Ave S

 

SOCR will begin drafting Rules in March 2012, and there will be opportunities for public comment during the Rule-drafting process. Some of the issues not covered in the FAQ document will be addressed in the Rules.

More

 

Stormans v. Selecky Case Postponed

1/17/12

The long, slow trial toward clear protection of patients’ rights continues: Stormans v. Selecky, our pharmacy refusal case in federal court, was scheduled to end with closing arguments on Wednesday, January 18th. In light of the anticipated “massive snow storm” expected in the Puget Sound area, the judge in the case postponed those arguments until Wednesday, February 1st. The judge has indicated he will issue his decision at a later date. When that happens, we’ll be informing our supporters both of that decision, and about our next steps.

 

Women’s Health Advocates Unveil Groundbreaking Legislation Requiring All Health Insurance Policies Sold in Washington to Cover Abortion

1/8/12

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Rep. Eileen Cody (D-34) announced the Reproductive Parity Act, vital legislation that requires all health insurance policies sold in Washington that cover maternity care to cover abortion care. Rep. Cody was joined by Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-27), Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) and fellow pro-choice legislators, as well as an uninsured woman, a health care provider and a member of the clergy, all of whom discussed how this legislation will improve women’s access to basic reproductive health care.

"This bill is about ensuring that all Washington women have health insurance coverage that includes the full range of reproductive health care options, including abortion," said Rep. Cody, prime House sponsor of the Reproductive Parity Act and Chair of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. "As we implement the federal health care reform law, we need to ensure that we have no erosion of our existing laws in Washington that protect women's reproductive rights.” Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-44) is sponsoring companion legislation in the Senate.

Washington Women Matter, a broad coalition of organizations supporting women’s health, has come together to advocate for the passage of the Reproductive Parity Act, led by NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, Legal Voice and the National Organization for Women. This coalition is educating Washington’s pro-choice majority about this legislation and generating legislator contacts in support of a fair and equitable health care system that includes access to abortion care for all Washington women.

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Washington Governor Endorses Marriage Equality!
1/4/12
Today, Governor Chris Gregoire declared her support for marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples in Washington! In this historic announcement, the Governor made a compelling case for why marriage equality matters and why the Legislature should pass it this year. The Governor’s announcement is an important step forward in making that vision a reality in Washington.


More

 

“Relocation and Safety for Survivors of Domestic Violence” Webinar Produced at Legal Voice

12/28/11

Legal Voice recently completed the production of an online training webinar “Relocation and Safety for Survivors of Domestic Violence” in collaboration with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) and the Northwest Justice Project.

A 1995 Washington law gives domestic violence survivors the right to file for a sealed name change for herself and her children when it is necessary to change her identity to prevent the abuser from finding the family. Sealing the court order which grants the name change means that there will be no public access to the file, so that no one will be able to make the connection between the victim's former and new name. To be effective, the name change should immediately be followed by a change of Social Security Number. To do this, survivors must apply through the Social Security Administration. In 1997, Legal Voice prepared a packet on Confidential Identity Changes which explains the implications of this action and the procedures to follow. Over the past 14 years, the packet has been updated repeatedly and provided to domestic violence advocates in Washington State who attended a training provided by Legal Voice.

Now legal advocates around the state will be able to access a much broader training on “Relocation and Safety for Survivors of Domestic Violence” at their leisure. This training covers the Washington State Relocation Act, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, and Protecting Identity and Location Information. The trainer, Elizabeth Helm, is an attorney with the Northwest Justice Project. She has years of experience working with survivors and training domestic violence advocates, as well as volunteering with Legal Voice. Legal Voice has updated our materials on Confidential Identity Changes and on other safety strategies for survivors; advocates who complete the online training will have access to these materials. Mette Earlywine, Program Coordinator of the Legal Advocacy Project at WSCADV, lent her incredible technical expertise and education skills during the full day of taping.

Advocates who wish to take the free training can access it on WSCADV’s e-learning center. Legal Voice is proud to be part of this collaboration with our sister organizations and pleased to provide a new resource for the much-appreciated domestic violence advocates in Washington State.

 

Legal Voice Joins Advocates to Request Review of Penn State’s Title IX Compliance

12/15/11

This week, Legal Voice joined nine other legal organizations to submit a letter to the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education requesting a Title IX Compliance Review of how Penn State responds to sexual harassment and violence allegations.  The letter also called for routine reviews to determine whether schools across the country respond differently to complaints of sexual harassment and violence when athletes and athletic department members are implicated.  The request was made by the Women’s Law Project, California Women's Law Center, Legal Voice, Equal Rights Advocates, National Women’s Law Center, Equity Legal, Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center, Women’s Sports Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, and Southwest Women’s Law Center.

More

 

Brown Bag Lunch on December 8th: Upcoming Legislative Sessions

12/5/11

What is going on in Washington? What does the Special Legislative Session and 2012 Session mean to you? To our community?


Join Legal Voice staff members on Thursday, December 8th from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Legal Voice office for a brown bag lunch and a lively discussion about the upcoming legislative session. Learn about the bills we’ll be working on and the ones we’ll keep wary eyes on. Find out how the budget is going to affect some of our state’s most vital programs and more!

Bring your lunch – we’ll have beverages and some treats.

RSVP by Wednesday, December 7th to Michelle Johnson or call 206-682-9552 x113.

 

Patients of Washington Get Their Day in Court

11/28/2011

After more than 7 years of research, advocacy, litigation, appeals, briefing, and yet more briefing, the patients of Washington will finally be heard about their right to their medications. On Monday, November 28th, trial commenced in Stormans v. Selecky, Legal Voice’s case testing the Board of Pharmacy regulation requiring that all patients receive their medications and prescriptions on site, without discrimination or delay.

This case has far-reaching implications for patients of Washington State.  And that’s all patients: women who need emergency contraception, persons with HIV/AIDS who must have their prescription regimen filled promptly, diabetics who need syringes—anyone who depends on having their healthcare needs handled with respect and discretion.

Follow Legal Voice on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates on how the trial is progressing.

 

Fighting for LGBT Rights in Montana

11/28/2011

Legal Voice has joined with the Montana Human Rights Network to file an amicus brief in a case to extend legal benefits and obligations to committed same-sex couples in Montana.  This case, brought by our allies at the ACLU of Montana, is currently pending in the Montana Supreme Court.

The amicus brief submitted by Legal Voice and the Human Rights Network argues that the Montana Constitution requires the state to provide committed lesbian and gay couples the same benefits and obligations available to married, different-sex couples.  The brief also demonstrates why discrimination based on sexual orientation must be subject to the strictest level of judicial scrutiny under Montana law. 

The Legal Voice/Human Rights Network brief was written by a team of cooperating attorneys led by Vanessa Soriano Power of Stoel Rives.  The team included Gloria Hong, Karin Jones, Erin Lennon, and Alex Oh from Stoel Rives and Kanika Chander of Perkins Coie.

 

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Washington is going for marriage equality!

11/14/2011

Lisa M. Stone and David Ward, both of Legal Voice, attended a press conference this morning announcing the formation of Washington United for Marriage, a new coalition that will work to obtain civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples in Washington.  Legal Voice is thrilled to be a part of the coalition to make this happen! We recognize discrimination when we see it, and we know that extending civil marriage to committed lesbian and gay couples harms no one and only strengthens the institution of marriage.

Support for civil marriage for all loving, committed couples is growing in Washington and around the country, and we believe 2012 is the year we can make it happen. When we win, LGBT couples from Aberdeen to Asotin, Bellingham to Walla Walla, and Omak to Olympia will be able to enjoy the right of civil marriage the same way different-sex couples do today.

Legal Voice has spent the past 10 years at the forefront of fight for marriage equality in Washington. In Andersen v. King County, we challenged Washington’s law that bans civil marriages of same-sex couples. Though we lost by 5-4 at the State Supreme Court, the battle didn’t end there: instead, we turned to the Legislature and worked with our allies to pass a series of domestic partnership laws. And now, we think the climate is right to move forward with our coalition partners to pass marriage equality in Washington—providing equal treatment for all families.

To join the effort, check out Washington United for Marriage, like the coalition on Facebook, follow it on Twitter, and stay tuned for more information as we move toward the next legislative session and our continued advocacy for civil marriage.

More

Holding Police Accountable for Women’s Safety

11/9/2011

The Washington Court of Appeals heard arguments this morning in the case of Washburn v. City of Federal Way. Legal Voice joined with Washington Women Lawyers to file an amicus brief in this appeal to ensure better enforcement of protection orders.

In 2008, Baerbel Roznowski obtained an anti-harassment protection order against her live-in partner, Paul Kim, requiring him to stay 500 feet away from her.  As required by law, the Federal Way police served the protection order on Mr. Kim.  But instead of making sure that Mr. Kim complied with the order by leaving Ms. Roznowski’s house, the police handed the order to Mr. Kim and walked away—leaving Ms. Roznowski alone in her house with Mr. Kim.  Three hours later, the police came back to find she had been murdered by Mr. Kim.

Ms. Roznowki’s estate and her daughters sued the City for negligence, and last year a jury awarded $1.1 million in damages.  But the City has appealed, arguing that it owed no legal duty of care to Ms. Roznowski in serving and enforcing the protection order.

The Court of Appeals is expected to make a ruling as early as February 2012.

 

Welcome Equal Justice Works Fellow, Lillian M. Hewko

10/31/2011

Early this fall, Legal Voice was pleased to welcome back Lillian M. Hewko as an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Lillian is a former Legal Voice intern and graduate of the University of Washington School of Law where she is a Gates Public Service Scholar.

Lillian began focusing on work with incarcerated women early in her law school career, co-founding the Incarcerated Mother’s Advocacy Project (IMAP). She currently serves on the board of directors for Law Students for Reproductive Justice and reproductive justice collaborative Surge NW. As an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Legal Voice, she will work to implement a project she developed to provide legal information and education to incarcerated mothers in Washington State to help reduce the chances of permanent family separation. Because greater systemic change is needed, the project will also pursue legislation and impact litigation to create alternatives to incarceration as well as improve child welfare laws to better address the needs of these vulnerable families.

Read her latest blog post, Mothers Sentenced to Lose Their Children.

Welcome, Lillian!

 

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is finally gone!

9/20/2011

As lawyers representing the highest-ranking person ever to be discharged from the military because of sexual orientation, we’re proud to have been part of the movement to allow all dedicated citizens to serve our country.  One of Legal Voice’s most significant and longest-running cases involved the representation of Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, who was discharged from the National Guard based on the ban on homosexuals in the military.  The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the federal government's appeal of the district court ruling for mootness because the policy under which Cammermeyer was discharged had been replaced by the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.  The case was remanded to the district court to determine whether to vacate its original order, which reinstated Cammermeyer to her rank as Colonel in the National Guard.  By declining to vacate its order, the district court resolved this case once and for all, leaving on the books its opinion that an outright ban on homosexuals in the military violates the equal protection clause of the constitution by distinguishing between straight and gay service members without any rational basis.

 

Victory: Seattle Enacts Paid Sick & Safe Days Law!

9/12/2011

The Seattle City Council voted 8-1 to become the nation’s third city in which workers have the right to paid sick and safe days!

As a key member of the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce, Legal Voice has worked to shape this landmark legislation to help workers and businesses alike to stay healthy. Finally, no longer will workers have to choose between their jobs and caring for themselves or their family members when they’re ill.

Seattle’s ordinance is one of the strongest of its kind and will ensure that workers in Seattle, as well as those who live outside, but work in Seattle, have access to paid sick and safe days. Seattle’s ordinance

  • covers all but the smallest businesses (all businesses with 5 or more employees);
  • allows workers to access paid sick and safe leave to care not just for their own medical needs, but also for those of their family members, including domestic partners; and
  • ensures that survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking have access to paid safe days to secure their safety, seek medical care, and attend to legal needs.

More

 

Paid Sick & Safe Days Ordinance Moves to Full City Council Vote on September 12th!

8/11/2011

A step forward for Paid Sick and Safe days: Wednesday, August 10, Seattle City Council's Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee voted to move the Paid Sick & Safe Days ordinance forward to the full City Council. Thanks to “yes” votes from committee members Sally Clark, Jean Godden, Mike O’Brien, and ordinance sponsor Nick Licata, a full-council vote is scheduled for September 12th.

Follow the movement at Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce and at Legal Voice on Facebook; and sign up to receive emails.

 

Legal Voice filed an amicus curiae brief in the Oregon Supreme Court

7/20/2011

Legal Voice filed an amicus curiae brief in the Oregon Supreme Court in a parental termination case that could have grave implications for mothers.  In In the Matter of V.L.M. and A.R.H., the trial court permitted the state’s lawyer to inquire into details of the mother’s decision to terminate a pregnancy and her past sexual history.  The mother objected to releasing her abortion records, but was ordered by the court to respond.  Ultimately, the trial judge found her unfit to parent, relying in part on her sexual history and reluctance to identify the father of the terminated pregnancy as a basis for finding her “not credible.”

Legal Voice cooperating attorneys Laura Clinton, Heidi Craig, Jennifer Addis, and Laura Owens of K&L Gates urged the state Supreme Court to accept review of the case.

Read the amicus brief.

 

An updated brochure of the Rights of Registered Domestic Parnters in Washington now available. 

6/24/2011

Legal Voice has an updated brochure on the rights of registered domestic partners in Washington! This brochure is a collaboration by Legal Voice and our allies at Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Washington, Equal Rights Washington, and Q-Law. 

- The Rights of Registered Domestic Partners in Washington (6/11).

 

Legal Voice's friends and supporters from the Pacific Northwest (and beyond) donate more than $25,000 in The Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG Challenge.

6/24/2011

All together, more than 18,800 donations totaling more than $3.5 million were made to nonprofit organizations on June 23rd during The Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG Challenge.  Legal Voice was proud to team up with The Seattle Foundation and be a part of this historic event. 

Our amazing community has awed and delighted us once again with their incredible show of support during GiveBIG! Our wonderful supporters not only give their time and money, but also celebrate our victories, give encouragement when we face enormous obstacles, and believe in our vision: A world where every woman and girl enjoys economic, social, and political equality.  We couldn't do it without you. Thank you!

 

Legal Voice is proud to be teaming up with The Seattle Foundation and local businesses on June 23rd, 2011 for the GiveBIG challenge!

6/7/2011

GiveBIG is a one-day, online charitable-giving event that will inspire people to donate generously to nonprofit organizations like Legal Voice through The Seattle Foundation. When you make a donation that day through The Seattle Foundation website, your gift will be matched proportionally! It’s a wonderful opportunity to make your passion for your causes go further. We invite you to participate in the GiveBIG challenge!

Here's how:

Make a gift of any size to Legal Voice on June 23rd between 7 a.m. and midnight (PDT) through The Seattle Foundation website.
• Go to the Seattle Foundation website: www.seattlefoundation.org
• Search for “Legal Voice” in the upper right-hand search box.
• Click on “Legal Voice” when it comes up.
• Choose “Donate” to Legal Voice.

Or simply click here: Legal Voice

All funds donated to Legal Voice will be proportionally matched – allowing you to make your donation and your commitment to our work go just a little further! If you have any questions, please contact B. Michelle Johnson at 206-682-9552x113 or via email at mjohnson@LegalVoice.org.

 

Legal Voice's June Krumpotick to Receive Flame of Democracy Award

5/12/2011

Legal Voice is proud to share news that our very own June Krumpotick, Lead Paralegal and Self Help Program Manager, will be honored with the WSBA Council on Public Legal Education's Flame of Democracy Award.  The award will be presented later this year.

The award honors an individual, organization or program in Washington state that has made a significant contribution to increasing the public's understanding of law, the justice system or government. 

As we all know, June and the Self Help Program have helped thousands of people in Washington state understand their legal rights.  We at Legal Voice are incredibly proud to work alongside June and so happy to see her recognized and honored for her valuable work. 

 

A Victory for Washington Families

5/11/2011

For years, Legal Voice has fought to ensure that the law recognizes and respects the wonderful diversity of today’s families.  Yesterday, this goal moved one step closer to reality when Governor Gregoire signed House Bill 1267 into law.  This bill, one of Legal Voice’s top legislative priorities this session, makes sweeping changes to modernize Washington’s Uniform Parentage Act.  

The new law helps ensure that same-sex parents have the same legal rights and obligations as different-sex parents.  In particular, it explicitly provides that when couples in registered domestic partnerships have a child together, both parents are legally presumed to be the child’s parents – the same presumption that applies when a different-sex married couple has a child.

The bill also includes a “holding out” provision to establish parental rights.  This means a person will be legally presumed to be a child’s parent if, for the first two years of the child’s life, the person lives in the same home with the child and openly holds out the child as his or her own.

House Bill 1267 recognizes that being a parent isn’t a simple matter of biology.  It’s about providing the day-to-day love, support, and commitment that a child needs – regardless of the parent’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic ties to the child.   We’re thrilled that Washington has taken this important step toward treating all families equally.

You may recall that the original version of House Bill 1267 also included provisions to allow compensated surrogacy agreements in Washington.  However, the surrogacy provisions of the bill were stripped out of the legislation in the Senate.  We expect that this issue will be revisited in future sessions, and we will continue working to make sure that any surrogacy legislation respects women’s reproductive autonomy and protects women’s rights.

 

Join Us in Keeping Seattle's Working Families Healthy and Safe!

5/11/2011

Please join us on May 11 at 5:00 p.m., at University Christian Church, to share why YOU believe paid sick time is necessary!

Women and their families are often forced to choose between the jobs they need and the families they love.  Join Legal Voice, Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce and others for a public forum on paid sick days.

For more information on this event, click here.

 

2011 legislative session a great success!  What's next?

5/5/2011

Raise Your Voice hosted happy hour at the Lobby Bar on May 3, to wrap up the 2011 legislative session. Legal Voice lobbyist Pam Crone and staff attorneys Sara Ainsworth and David Ward were on hand to chat about how the session went and give us insight into how our bills fared. 

It was a wonderful way to get caught up on the 2011 legislative session details and learn more about what Legal Voice is planning next!  If you missed this opportunity to catch up on the Legal Voice priorities, please look for our May newsletter in your mailbox soon! 

For regular updates and information via email, please register here!

 

Washington Governor signs House Bill 1565 into law!

4/20/2011

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed House Bill 1565 into law.  The new law helps domestic violence survivors maintain long-term protection orders against their abusers. Legal Voice worked closely with the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence to develop and advocate for this bill.

House Bill 1565 puts the burden back where it belongs.  To terminate a long-term protection order, the bill requires an abuser to prove there has been a substantial change in circumstances that makes it unlikely he will resume domestic violence.  The bill also specifies that a victim has no burden of re-proving her fear of the abuser.

We’re thrilled to get the law changed within a matter of months of the state Supreme Court’s decision.  Special thanks to Representative David Frockt for sponsoring House Bill 1565, and for everyone who called their legislators to urge them to support this legislation!

 

Cocktails for a Cause is a great success!

3/24/2011

Thank you to all our wonderful friends, colleagues, volunteers and fellow revelers who attended Cocktails for a Cause on Thursday, March 24!  It was a fantastic success, raising money to support critical Legal Voice programs. 

You can check out anti-bullying information from Safe Schools Coalition's Beth Reis below:

Bullying:  What You Can Do About It

A Family's Guide to Handling Anti-Gay (LGBTQ) Harassment

Photos from the event can be found at our Flickr site, HERE!

Thanks again to all our Cocktails for a Cause sponsors.

Washington House of Representatives Misses Opportunity to Protect Women's Health.

3/8/2011

A bill that would have addressed serious harm to women caused by limited service pregnancy centers has not moved forward in the state legislature. HB 1366, the Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act, was not brought to the House floor for a vote before the 5pm cut-off for bills to pass from their house of origin today.

 - Press Release.

Settlement Reached in Leading Lawsuit under Washington Law Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence.

12/22/2010

The parties in the first lawsuit filed under Washington’s Domestic Violence Leave Act have agreed to a settlement. Legal Voice and Columbia Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm that provides legal services for low-income people, represented Ms. Doe, who claimed she was fired in violation of the law.

 - Press Release.

 

Victory at the Board of Pharmacy: patients' rights triumph!

12/16/2010

Today, the Board of Pharmacy acknowledged both the needs of patients and the public's opinion, and did the right thing: it voted to keep the rules that ensure that patients can get their prescriptions filled at the pharmacy, on site, without delay, and without discrimination. More.

 - Press Release.

 

Are you ready to take up the fight for women's rights?

11/29/2010

Get educated, get drinks, and get your lobby on with Raise Your Voice, the younger set of Legal Voice supporters and friends. Legal Voice lobbyist Pam Crone will introduce our draft legislative agenda, touching on such issues such as domestic violence, surrogacy, and crisis pregnancy centers. Join us for drinks and preparation for Lobby Day 2011. Raise your voice!

Thursday, December 2, 2010
5-7 pm
The Lobby Bar
916 E. Pike Street on Capitol Hill
Seattle, WA

 

Big win for working parents!

10/27/2010

After a bench trial, a federal court in Spokane, Washington, concluded yesterday that treating women adversely because they are pregnant or new mothers is illegal gender discrimination. Legal Voice, along with cooperating counsel Kammi Mencke Smith of Winston & Cashatt, is celebrating this decision as a victory for our client, Norma Maxwell, and for working parents everywhere.

Norma Maxwell was criticized by her employer for having a negative attitude at work during her pregnancy. Despite her past stellar work performance, the employer believed that Ms. Maxwell’s work would suffer “because the children will come first.” A few short weeks after returning from maternity leave, she was fired.

In ruling that the employer had discriminated against Ms. Maxwell, the Court said the employer “type-cast” Ms. Maxwell and “appears to have been convinced that as a new mother Ms. Maxwell would not be as good of an employee as she had been prior to her second pregnancy, regardless of any individualized evidence to the contrary.”

More

- Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in Maxwell v. VESi

 

Domestic violence survivor fired for protecting family; Legal Voice sues
9/14/2010

An eastern Washington woman was abused and stalked by her husband; when she took time off to get her family to safety she was fired.  Today, that woman became the first person to file suit under the Domestic Violence Leave Act, a Washington state law passed in 2008 that requires employers to give employees reasonable time off to attend court, take steps to achieve safety, and ensure the safety of their children if the employee is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

More

Legal Voice represents woman fired over pregnancy and parenting
9/7/2010

A federal court in Spokane today begins hearing testimony in a case brought by Norma Maxwell against VESi, a software company, for wrongful termination. Ms. Maxwell was fired despite excellent performance reviews, after her employers told her she “had a negative attitude” about being pregnant and that they believed it was “not possible” for a mother to work from home if she had small children.

More

 

Legal Voice sues on behalf of former Gonzaga student
8/31/2010

Today Legal Voice filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Jane Doe, a former student at Gonzaga University. The suit alleges that Gonzaga’s failure to respond appropriately to Jane Doe’s report of sexual assault violated her federal right to equal access to education.

More

Proposition 8 overturned!
8/4/2010

Legal Voice applauds Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage.

More

Court issues order delaying pharmacy refusal trial, pending outcome of Board of Pharmacy rulemaking
7/12/2010

A federal court in Tacoma granted an order delaying the trial of the Stormans et al. v. Selecky et al. lawsuit, originally scheduled to begin in late July.

More

State seeks delay in trial to defend patients' access to medications

7/7/2010

Today the State of Washington filed a motion to delay Legal Voice's Stormans et al. v. Selecky et al. lawsuit involving a challenge brought by two pharmacists and a pharmacy to a Washington State Board of Pharmacy rule requiring all licensed pharmacies to fill patients’ prescriptions, regardless of an individual pharmacist’s personal beliefs about a particular medication.

More

Legal Voice E-News, Spring 2010

5/26/2010

A quarterly update about our work - court cases, legislative advocacy, community outreach and more.

Already in 2010 we have witnessed exciting progress in our cases on abusive litigation and patients' rights to obtain prescriptions. Washington’s recent legislative session saw several battles over women's rights to be safe and healthy. Plus, a bevy of Legal Voice events and new legal information publications are in the works.

More

Settlement reached in case of woman shackled during labor

5/19/2010

Legal Voice is pleased to announce a victory this week in our work to defend women’s rights to be safe wherever they are.

The Washington State Department of Corrections will pay Casandra Brawley, a formerly incarcerated woman, $125,000 to settle a claim that she was restrained while in labor. Legal Voice and Seattle law firm Peterson Young Putra represented Ms. Brawley, who was restrained during labor leading up to the delivery of her baby boy at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma in April of 2007.

This settlement follows Legal Voice’s successful advocacy for a new law in Washington to forbid state prisons, county jails and juvenile correctional facilities from shackling incarcerated women who are in labor or recovering from labor.

More

Legal Voice calls on Congress to stop workplace discrimination

4/22/2010

Legal Voice has joined over 200 organizations across the country in calling on Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) now. ENDA would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity throughout the United States. We need ENDA to stop workplace discrimination - please join us in calling on your representatives in Congress to pass ENDA now!

More

  • endaNOW   A coalition of local organizers and concerned citizens committed to the passage of comprehensive federal legislation which protects individuals from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

Washington State Supreme Court protects immigrants’ access to the courts
4/15/2010

Legal Voice is pleased with today’s decision of the Washington State Supreme Court that a litigant’s immigration status should not have been considered in a civil case. In Salas v. Hi-Tech Erectors, an injured worker sued his employer for severe injuries he suffered when he fell off a defective ladder. The jury, after learning about the worker’s immigration status, found for the employer. Legal Voice filed an amicus curiae brief, as did several immigrants’ rights, workers’ rights, and civil rights organizations, urging the Washington Supreme Court to overturn the ruling because immigration status is not only generally irrelevant to a person’s civil lawsuit, but is an extremely volatile issue likely to prejudice a litigant.

In our brief, Legal Voice stressed the impact that admission of immigration status would have on battered immigrant women, for whom fear of immigration consequences is already a powerful disincentive to seeking help from the police and the courts. Allowing admission of immigration status in this context provides an abusive spouse one more tool of control, and puts battered women and their children at risk. Legal Voice applauds today’s decision, and will continue its work to ensure equality and justice for immigrant women.

More

 

Setting the record straight on minors' health care rights

3/25/2010

Yesterday, local media in Seattle reported a story about a mother angry that her teenage daughter obtained an abortion without the mother’s knowledge or consent. Her daughter was apparently referred for the abortion through a health clinic located in, but not operated by, her daughter’s public high school.

Legal Voice is disappointed that the media reported on this story without investigating the law protecting minors’ rights in this state. Whether or not this mother was upset about it, her daughter, like all other minors in Washington State, has the legal right to obtain reproductive health services – including prenatal care, abortion, and birth control – with or without her parents’ knowledge or consent.

More

Governor Chris Gregoire signs bill to stop shackling in Washington state
3/23/09

Today, Washington became the seventh state to restrict the practice of shackling incarcerated women. The bill, passed overwhelmingly by both houses of the Washington Legislature, was signed into law by Governor Gregoire.

Today’s bill signing coincides with action in the federal court case brought by Legal Voice in June 2009 on behalf of Casandra Brawley, whose constitutional rights
were violated when the Washington State Department of Corrections, against its own policy, shackled Ms. Brawley while she was in labor.


Read More

Legal Voice hosts End of Session Brown Bag Lunch
3/11/09

Join Legal Voice lobbyist Pam Crone and other Legal Voice staff for a lunchtime discussion to wrap up the 2010 Washington Legislative Session. We will celebrate our successes, acknowledge defeats and talk about some of the work that went on behind the scenes during this very intense legislative session.

End of Session Brown Bag Lunch

  • Thursday, March 25 2010
  • 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.
  • Legal Voice office
  • Map

Bring your lunch! We’ll provide beverages and interesting conversation.

Please RSVP to Michelle Johnson: MJohnson@LegalVoice.org

Legal Voice supports bill to limit shackling of pregnant women
1/14/09

Legal Voice applauds legislation introduced in the Washington State Legislature this week to protect pregnant incarcerated women from inhumane treatment. The bill would limit the ability of prisons, jails, and other Washington correctional facilities to use shackles and other restraints on pregnant incarcerated women. Such practices are especially barbaric during labor, delivery, and immediately after childbirth.

“It defies common sense to risk a pregnant woman’s health, safety, and dignity by shackling her while she is in the process of giving birth,” said Sara Ainsworth, Senior Counsel at Legal Voice.


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New bill aims to protect women's health from deceptive "clinics."
1/13/09

Limited service pregnancy centers are non-profit organizations – not medical clinics – that typically offer free pregnancy tests and other pregnancy-related services, but often distribute false or misleading information about abortion, pregnancy, contraception, or sexually transmitted infections.

Today, legislators in Washington State introduced bills that would protect women’s health by improving accuracy, transparency and privacy at limited service pregnancy centers. Legal Voice and other women’s rights advocates are calling the bill long overdue.


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