Law Commons^™

Taming A Dragon: Legislative History In Legal Analysis, Mark Deforrest

Mark DeForrest

ARTICLE ABSTRACT

TAMING A DRAGON:

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY IN LEGAL ANALYSIS

Mark DeForrest

The use of legislative history in statutory interpretation and analysis has been an area of intensive inquiry since the 1980’s. The debate has been vigorous and has led to the development of sophisticated arguments by both the advocates of the use of legislative history and textualists critical of its use. While the debate has been ongoing, changes in technology have made it easier than ever to access detailed legislative history for both state and federal statutes. This article discusses the impact of both the debate and the technological …

Stare Decisis And Conflicts Between The Divisions Of Washington State Court Of Appeals: Resolving A Problem At The Trial Court Level, Mark Deforrest

Mark DeForrest

The Washington Court of Appeals is a single court that sits in three geographically distinct divisions. A case from a division is binding on trial courts throughout the state, but not on the other divisions within the court of appeals. Conflicts between the divisions occur, placing trial courts in a Catch-22 situation when faced with conflicting authorities from the court of appeals. This article identifies and explains the problem, and provides background information on the history and function of Washington's junior appellate court. The article also identifies and critiques four possible solutions of the problem facing trial courts. Ultimately, the …