Public welcome to attend, ask questions as Court of Appeals, Div. I hears cases April 21 at Skagit Valley College in Oak Harbor

Public welcome to attend, ask questions as Court of Appeals, Div. I hears cases April 21 at Skagit Valley College in Oak Harbor

The Whidbey Island campus of Skagit Valley College will host a panel of judges from the Washington State Court of Appeals (COA), Division I, as they hear oral arguments on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The hearings are open to the public and attendees are welcome to learn more about the role and operations of the court during a Q&A session directly following oral arguments.

Division I has partnered with Skagit Valley College for traveling court events at the Mount Vernon campus for the last four years, but this is the first time it will hear argument in Oak Harbor.

The hearings will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Oak Hall located on the Whidbey Island campus of Skagit Valley College, 1900 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA. They will be livestreamed and recorded by TVW.

Division I Chief Judge Cecily C. Hazelrigg highlighted the court's gratitude for "the deepening partnership with educational institutions like Skagit Valley College as we work together to promote transparency in government, confidence in the judiciary, and civics education broadly."

Chief Judge Hazelrigg has taken the lead on behalf of the court to coordinate and support community outreach events in the northwest part of Washington and, as an Oak Harbor High School and SVC alum, she is particularly excited to bring the Court of Appeals to the Island.

"We are so very lucky for the collaboration that has grown between the SVC administration and faculty and Division I and for the opportunity they have provided us to spend time hearing from our neighbors in the communities we serve and sharing the work we do on and off the bench."

Beginning at 9:30 a.m., Chief Judge Cecily C. Hazelrigg (Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan Counties), Acting Chief Judge Bill A. Bowman (King County) and Judge Linda WY Coburn (Snohomish County) will hear arguments in the following cases:

• 877224 - State of Washington v. Joshua K. Resor
• 882287 - Whidbey Environmental Action Network v. City of Oak Harbor
• 880942 - City of Granite Falls v. Heather Buchholz

Each argument will last approximately 20 minutes. Briefs and other legal filings in these cases can be found at the Appellate Court Public Document Portal by inputting the case number without the hyphen.

Division I will also participate in a panel discussion on the separation of powers doctrine from 2:30-3:30pm in Oak Hall. This panel will bring together individuals serving in important roles in the three branches of our state government to discuss how law is developed, the interactions between the three branches of government, and how individuals working in the judicial, legislative, and executive branches navigate competing demands in the work that they do for our communities.

Panelists include Judge Bill A. Bowman, State Representative Darya Farivar, and First Assistant Attorney General Maureen Johnston. The discussion will be facilitated by SVC Professor and State Representative Dave Paul.

While all three divisions of the Court of Appeals may hear cases from trial courts throughout the state, Division I, located in Seattle, covers the northwest region of King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, San Juan and Island Counties.

See the Washington Courts website for further information on the history, members and operations of the three divisions of the Washington State Court of Appeals.

Contact: Court of Appeals, Div. I Clerk Lea Ennis, (206) 464-7750, [email protected].