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Extinguishing The Burning Crosses: Washington's Malicious Harassment Statute In Light Of The Issues Of Overbreadth And Vagueness, Edward Comitz

Seattle University Law Review

This Comment briefly discusses how Washington’s malicious harassment statute should be interpreted in light of the recent United States Supreme Court case R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul. Because the issues of overbreadth and vagueness are of imminent importance, to Washington’s statute, the majority of this Comment focuses on an analysis of those issues Both issues are discussed in terms of the specific crime of cross burning with the intent to intimidate or harass as proscribed by Section (1) of Washington’s malicious harassment statute. Finally, because the real harms minority victims of hate crimes experience, this Comment argues that Washington’s …