By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A Washington state judge has temporarily blocked key provisions of a new law that added background and eligibility requirements for county sheriffs.
• The ruling came Wednesday from a Thurston County Superior Court judge one day before parts of the law were to take effect.
• The lawsuit was brought by a group of eastern Washington sheriffs arguing the law’s provisions are unconstitutional.
• Blocked sections include enhanced experience requirements and authority to decertify and remove elected sheriffs.
• The state plans to appeal the preliminary injunction as litigation continues.
OLYMPIA, WA — A Thurston County Superior Court judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking key provisions of a Washington state law that would have imposed new background and eligibility requirements on county sheriffs, officials said.
The ruling came Wednesday, one day before much of Senate Bill 5974 was scheduled to take effect, following a lawsuit filed by a group of eastern Washington sheriffs who argued the measures were unconstitutional.
The injunction halts enforcement of enhanced experience requirements and sections that would allow sheriffs to be decertified or removed from office by the Criminal Justice Training Commission, according to court proceedings.
Sheriffs challenging the law argued it would give unelected officials authority to effectively remove elected sheriffs and impose higher qualifications than voters require.
The state has indicated it plans to appeal the judge’s decision as the litigation over the law’s constitutionality continues.