WSAJ Foundation Amicus Curiae Request
Request for Appearance of WSAJ Foundation as Amicus Curiae
Please read the Guidelines before submitting a request.
Please send your request letter and materials to the Foundation's Co-Coordinators:
Valerie McOmie
Amicus Coordinator
360-852-3332
valeriemcomie@gmail.com
Dan Huntington
Amicus Coordinator
509-455-4201
danhuntington@richter-wimberley.com
Procedure for Requesting Appearance of WSAJ Foundation as Amicus Curiae
"Amicus requests" shall be submitted in accordance with the following guidelines:
- All requests from parties or others seeking amicus curiae involvement in the Washington Supreme Court on the merits shall be directed to WSAJ Foundation c/o the Amicus Coordinator for the Amicus Program.
- In its discretion, the Amicus Committee may consider appearance as amicus curiae before an intermediate Court of Appeals, state or federal, and seek to file an amicus curiae brief if it finds exceptional circumstances to do so, in addition to finding the governing criteria for passing on an amicus request are satisfied. While amicus requests are only accepted regarding cases before the Washington Supreme Court on the merits, a party or third person may call to the attention of the Amicus Committee a case pending in an intermediate Court of Appeals, state or federal, that he or she believes warrants WSAJ Foundation appearance as amicus curiae at that level. Similarly, a party or third person may call attention to a case pending discretionary review or reconsideration before an appellate court, when amicus curiae submissions are permitted by the applicable rules in either of these instances. The Committee will determine in its sole discretion whether to pursue the matter further.
- No amicus request will be considered until the requesting party has filed an opening appellate brief.
- The party or third person seeking amicus curiae involvement initiates the amicus request by letter, accompanied by (a) a short and concise memorandum setting forth the specific legal issue or issues sought to be addressed; (b) a brief survey of the significant cases touching upon the issue(s), and copies thereof; and (c) a brief statement explaining why WSAJ Foundation should grant the amicus request, with specific reference to the criteria set forth in these Guidelines. The amicus request shall also include the following: copies of all appellate briefs filed to date in the case, the briefing schedule of the Supreme Court and probable date of oral argument, and, upon request, those portions of the record below minimally necessary for a full understanding of the proceeding.
- It is the policy of WSAJ Foundation that the Amicus Committee remain an independent body and not consult with parties or third persons who request amicus curiae intervention with regard to what the Foundation’s substantive position ought to be in any amicus brief filed on its behalf. This policy is based upon the belief that such procedure will best serve the interests of the Foundation in furthering a credible and independent Amicus Program that will focus on values and principles of general application which transcend the particular case. Under sub-paragraph 4., above, the party or third person making the amicus request has an opportunity to set forth the issues sought to be addressed in the memorandum accompanying the request. However, the Foundation will independently assess what issues are of importance to it without further input from the requesting party or third person. In the memorandum discussing the issues sought to be addressed, the party or third person seeking amicus curiae involvement may also comment upon why a particular issue or theory was not argued or asserted before the court.
- The party or third person making the amicus request shall furnish any additional materials or information requested by the Committee.