Concerning the limited license legal technician program.

 S-0449.1

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8006

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senators Torres and Hasegawa

Prefiled 01/07/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

TO THE HONORABLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, There is currently a noted shortage of attorneys available to fill roles in public defense and prosecution in Washington state, as confirmed by Legislative testimony in numerous hearings, constituent appeals, and as widely reported in the press throughout 2024; and

WHEREAS, The shortage of available attorneys is felt in many other areas by low and moderate-income Washingtonians, as confirmed by the Civil Legal Needs Studies from 2003 and 2015, which found that these Washingtonians frequently cannot access or afford legal services; and