Court stalls Washington from being ‘judge and prosecutor’ in fight against ranchers

Should a state regulator have unilateral ability to decide someone is breaking their rules, levy significant fines, and then control any appeal process without convincing a jury that they’re in the right?

Official response and confirmed impact

That question is what’s at stake in a legal battle between a generational Washington ranching family and a state regulator.

The couple argues that the board alone can’t impose hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines on their ranch without first convincing a jury it can.

Commissioner Hailey L.

Landrus, in her ruling, said King Ranch faces “irreparable” harm in being subjected to “a hearing before a person whom they argue is an unconstitutional factfinder.” The ruling doesn't mean the Kings are granted a jury trial, but the state must pause its attempts to enforce the fines and further punish the ranch owners while the lawsuit winds its way through the courts.

The Department of Ecology argues that the King family isn’t owed a jury trial in a state administrative matter.

Incident under investigation

A Washington appellate court commissioner ruled Friday that the state Pollution Control Hearings Board can’t continue its fight to fine Wade and Teresa King, owners of a ranch based in the eastern part of the state, while the couple seeks out a jury trial to decide on the fines they face.

The Kings appealed after a lower court dismissed their call for a pause.