Thurston County Judge Temporarily Blocks Key Provisions of Washington Sheriff Oversight Law
A Thurston County Superior Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction against key provisions of a new Washington state law aimed at increasing oversight of sheriffs. The decision follows an emergency hearing on a lawsuit filed by Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels and sheriffs from Pend Oreille, Stevens, and Ferry counties. The sheriffs argue that the new regulations, which include increasing mandatory law enforcement experience requirements for sheriff candidates from two to five years and establishing a state review board with the power to remove elected sheriffs, are unconstitutional. The judge's ruling temporarily halts the enforcement of these enhanced experience requirements and the section allowing for the decertification of sheriffs. The lawsuit remains pending. 
