Changeflow GovPing Courts & Legal State v. Stearns - Criminal Appeal
Routine Enforcement Amended Final

State v. Stearns - Criminal Appeal

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Filed March 26th, 2026
Detected March 27th, 2026
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Summary

The Washington Supreme Court has issued its opinion in State v. Stearns, filed on March 26, 2026. This case involves an appeal from the King County Superior Court, with the final judgment under review having been filed on November 20, 2020.

What changed

The Washington Supreme Court has issued its opinion in the case of State v. Stearns, docket number 103,908-5. The opinion was filed on March 26, 2026, and represents the court's final decision on this matter. The appeal originated from the King County Superior Court, with the judgment under review having been filed on November 20, 2020.

This document is a court opinion and does not impose new regulatory requirements or deadlines on regulated entities. Legal professionals involved in criminal justice matters in Washington State may wish to review the opinion for its impact on case law. The opinion details the decision of the court regarding the appeal.

Source document (simplified)

View the Slip Opinion(s) Filed for this Case.

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Supreme Court of the State of Washington Opinion Information Sheet

| Docket Number: | 103,908-5 |
| Title of Case: | State v. Stearns |
| File Date: | 03/26/2026 |
| Oral Argument Date: | 10/21/2025 |

SOURCE OF APPEAL

| Appeal from King County Superior Court | |
| Docket No: | 17-1-04714-3 |
| Judgment or order under review | |
| Date filed: | 11/20/2020 |
| Judge signing: | Honorable Julie A. Spector |

JUSTICES

| Debra L. Stephens | Signed Majority | |
| Charles W. Johnson | Signed Majority | |
| Barbara A. Madsen | Signed Majority | |
| Steven C. González | Signed Majority | |
| Sheryl Gordon McCloud | Signed Majority | |
| Raquel Montoya-Lewis | Signed Majority | |
| G. Helen Whitener | Signed Majority | |
| Salvador A. Mungia | Majority Author | |
| Colleen M. Melody | Did Not Participate | |
| Mary I. Yu | Signed Majority | Justice Pro Tempore |

COUNSEL OF RECORD

| Counsel for Petitioner(s) | |
| | Andrea Ruth Vitalich |
| | King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office |
| | 516 3rd Ave. Ste. W554 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-2362 |
| Counsel for Respondent(s) | |
| | Devon Carroll Knowles |
| | Washington Appellate Project |
| | 1511 3rd Ave. Ste. 610 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98101-1683 |

View the Slip Opinion(s) Filed for this Case.

View a Printer Friendly Version of this Opinion Information Sheet.

Source

Analysis generated by AI. Source diff and links are from the original.

Classification

Agency
WA Supreme Court
Filed
March 26th, 2026
Instrument
Enforcement
Legal weight
Binding
Stage
Final
Change scope
Minor
Document ID
103,908-5
Docket
103,908-5

Who this affects

Applies to
Criminal defendants
Activity scope
Criminal Appeals
Geographic scope
Washington US-WA

Taxonomy

Primary area
Criminal Justice
Operational domain
Legal
Topics
Judicial Administration

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