Resources

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

DUI BLOOD TESTING CHECKLIST

A practical checklist for reviewing Washington DUI blood evidence from collection through laboratory analysis. It identifies key requirements for the person drawing the blood, collection procedures and containers, forensic analyst...

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E2SSB 1174: Appointing Spoken Language Interpreters in WA Legal Proceedings

This bill passed in the 2025-2026 session concerns the appointment of court interpreters for spoken language in WA legal proceedings. These large-scale amendments to Chapter 2.43 RCW became effective in July 2025. All lawyers usin...

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Demand for Final Disposition Practice Advisory

Learn how to use RCW 9.98.010 to compel the timely resolution of pending criminal charges when a client is serving a sentence in a Washington penal, correctional, or juvenile rehabilitation institution. This practice advisory prov...

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Challenging DOL Proof of Mailing in DWLS Cases

This practice advisory explains how defenders can challenge the State’s proof of constitutionally adequate notice in Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) cases. It examines DOL’s suspension notice mailing process, the limita...

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Discovery Redactions Under Court Rule 4.7

This practice tip explains defense counsel’s responsibilities under the Washington Supreme Court’s amendments to CrR/CrRLJ 4.7 governing the redaction and disclosure of discovery to clients. It discusses when discovery...

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DNA Demand Letters from the attorney general: refusal to provide DNA – RCW 43.43.754(11) (5.2026)

This practice advisory explains why Washington Attorney General letters demanding DNA samples may not create a valid legal obligation to comply, particularly when the State failed to follow the notice and hearing procedures requir...

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PRACTICE TOOL: Incarcerated Defendant-Effects on Social Security

Does a conviction prevent a client from getting Social Security? How many different types of Social Security could my client have? Is there anything I can do or tell my client to do related to their date of release from incarcerat...

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Fighting For Family Integrity

This practice advisory accompanies the WDA IPP live webinar held on November 14, 2025.   This training is for family defenders, who are interested in protecting the parental fitness presumption as a means to defeat family separa...

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Practice Advisory-Changing or Removing Postconviction (RCW 10.99) Orders

This practice advisory is for criminal defense attorneys, postconviction defense attorneys, people sentenced for misdemeanor and felony offenses with a “domestic violence” special designation, and people sentenced to community...

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Name Change in Washington (1.2025)

This WDA Practice Advisory discusses the process and resources available for a Legal Name Change, with information specific to King County as an example.

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