A Washington attorney has surrendered his law license rather than face public disciplinary hearings, this time over allegations of treating his client trust account like a personal ATM.
Hari L. Alipuria, a Tacoma-based attorney licensed since 1997, permanently resigned from the Washington State Bar Association in lieu of discipline
Last week, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct officially opened an investigation into Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden.
The investigation follows a formal complaint alleging that Judge Basden has repeatedly endangered children and domestic violence victims by allowing his ecclesiastical role in the Church of Jesus Christ
The Washington State Supreme Court has suspended attorney Kerry P. Zeiler from practicing law in the state, mirroring a disciplinary action initially handed down by the Supreme Court of California.
The reciprocal discipline order, officially filed on January 22, 2026, places Zeiler on a three-year probation period, with an
On March 5, 2026, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the disbarment of attorney Stephen Kenneth Monro.
The 56-page opinion, authored by Justice Mary Yu, outlines a pattern of exploitation spanning several years, in which Monro stole from vulnerable clients, collected unreasonable fees, and repeatedly lied to the Office
A civil lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court alleges that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actively concealed the predatory behavior of a Seattle high priest, allowing him to sexually abuse young girls during the 1980s.
The complaint, filed by two women identified as Jane Doe
Despite public outcry and a damning state report detailing his inefficient case management, Judge Brent Basden continues to preside over Clallam County’s most delicate family disputes.
The official court calendar reflects business as usual today, showing him scheduled to oversee adoptions at 8:30 AM, the family docket at
The Olympic Herald previously reported on a troubling pattern of unethical behavior, administrative overreach, and cronyism by Judge Brent Basden, during his time as presiding judge in Clallam County Superior Court.
However, a newly released state report exposes a failure that goes beyond questionable hiring practices: a complete administrative collapse
The Washington State Supreme Court ordered a nine-month suspension for attorney Sean Patrick Kuhlmeyer, ending a disciplinary investigation into a pattern of frivolous litigation and the mishandling of client funds.
The order, filed on August 27, 2025, requires Kuhlmeyer to serve a 24-month probation period upon his reinstatement
A lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon alleges that a Ridgefield LDS stake president and a bishop failed to intervene after learning that a Ridgefield man was sexually abusing his teenage adoptive daughter.
The complaint, filed by a plaintiff under the pseudonym “Julie
Recent events in Clallam County Superior Court have left many citizens questioning the integrity of their local justice system. Following the controversial appointment of Commissioner Brian Parker by Judge Brent Basden—despite glaring red flags—public trust in Clallam County Superior Court is at an all-time low.
Compounding the
The Washington State Supreme Court has handed down an eight-month suspension to Seattle-based family law litigator Timothy Ronald Richards, following a series of severe professional misconduct violations that occurred during his own divorce proceedings.
The suspension, effective as of January 28, 2026, highlights the intense ethical boundaries lawyers
The Washington State Supreme Court has ordered the disbarment of Bainbridge Island attorney John David Du Wors, effectively ending his ability to practice law in the state. The order, filed on January 21, 2026, imposes reciprocal discipline following Du Wors’ disbarment in Delaware last year.
The disbarment marks the final
A federal lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in 2025, alleges that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and high-ranking church leaders knowingly facilitated the international sex trafficking of a minor.
The complaint alleges that church funds were
Following the sudden removal of Court Commissioner Brian Parker earlier this week, the Clallam County Superior Court schedule for tomorrow, February 13, 2026, confirms that Judge Brent Basden will personally take over the Family law calendar, in Courtroom 3 at 9:00 AM.
For many in Clallam County, this scheduling
The Olympic Herald confirmed this afternoon that Brian Parker is no longer employed as a Court Commissioner for the Clallam County Superior Court.
Parker, who served as the Family Law Court Commissioner, had recently faced public scrutiny. Details regarding his departure remain limited at this time.
This story is developing.
In a sharp rebuke of a trial judge’s reliance on a contested expert evaluation, the Washington State Court of Appeals Division I has reversed a King County Superior Court decision that vacated a domestic violence protection order. The unpublished opinion, filed today, explicitly cites “significant flaws” in a domestic
A recent lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of Washington for King County alleges that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its local affiliates knowingly allowed a convicted child rapist to hold positions of authority and access vulnerable children, leading to the sexual abuse of four
The Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct convened for its scheduled business meeting on Friday, February 6, keeping to a brief agenda highlighted by the announcement of a new internal initiative.
During the Executive Director’s report, the Commission announced the formation of a judicial anti-harassment taskforce. The stated
Longtime Clallam County attorney Lane Wolfley and his firm, Wolfley & Wolfley, P.S., have been named as defendants in a lawsuit alleging legal malpractice, fraud, and the misappropriation of client funds.
The Complaint, filed in Clallam County Superior Court by plaintiff Kimberly Pritchard, accuses Wolfley of mishandling a $1
Recently, our coverage has focused heavily on unfolding events at the Clallam County Superior Court. Before detailing the latest community response, here is a recap of the significant allegations and reports that have led to this moment:
1. Court Commissioner Brian Parker Accused of Stalking in Port Angeles; Arrested by
The Washington State Supreme Court held oral arguments on January 15, 2026, to determine the fate of Judge Pro Tempore David Ruzumna, whose judicial career hangs in the balance following a controversial attempt to secure a parking discount.
While the court’s final decision is currently pending, the justices appeared
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