DONATE

Resources

Home > Practice Advisories

Practice Advisories

WDA staff and the resource attorneys have created practice advisories on issues relevant to indigent defense. These documents are in Word format and you are encouraged to cut and paste them into your motions and other documents.

If you have an issue that you feel we should prepare an advisory on, let us know. If you have prepared practice advisories and would like to submit one for publication to the indigent defense community, please contact staff for publication to our data base.

As with all resources, WDA attempts to keep these documents current, but it is your responsibility to check the law for changes.

Here are the main subcategories for our Practice Advisories.

Below are the most recently updated documents and links in all practice advisories categories

Firearm and Deadly Weapon Enhancement- Proof Required (07.2020)

This practice advisory explains the proof the State must have to convict an individual of either a firearm or deadly weapon enhancement.

Category of Crimes-Felony-2020 Update (7.2020)

This advisory lists crimes by category including: non-violent, violent, serious violent, sex offense, most serious offense/three strikes/two strikes, indeterminate sex offense, serious traffic offense, crimes against persons, and ...

Vacate Misdemeanor w/2019 Legislative Update (5.2020)

This advisory discusses the rules for vacating a misdemeanor offense with the legislative updates from 2019, including the changes from The New Hope Act which expanded misdemeanor vacating.

Prosecutor Discretion to Seek Resentencing (5.2020)

This Practice Advisory discusses SB 6164, the 2020 legislation creating a new procedure for prosecutors to seek resentencing in felony cases.

Misdemeanors That Impact Felonies and Felony Sentencing (1.2020)

Necessity Defense (10.2010)

Bail Reform Resources and Support for Motions for Pretrial Release (01.2020)

The WDA Practice Advisory discusses the important reasons underlying pretrial reform and include resources produced by the WSBA Committee on Public Defense (CPD) in November of 2019. Also included are arguments defenders can use t...

The Involuntary Treatment Act Procedure for Non-ITA Practitioners (11.2019)

This Practice Advisory explains the two ways a person may be committed for mental health treatment pursuant Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA); what follows from a commitment, and the consequences of commitment including the loss of ...

Washout- Offense Prior to June 13, 2002 (2012)

This advisory discusses the rule of "washout" under the SRA for current offenses that occurred prior to June 13, 2002.

Washout – Felony/SRA (2012)

This WDA Practice Advisory discusses "washout" under the SRA, the rule that provides that some prior convictions do not count in the offender score if an individual has spent the required amount of time in the community. This advi...