Washington State Supreme Court Falls 1 Vote Shy of Ordering Release of Serial Killer Because of COVID-19


A divided state Supreme Court on Thursday swiftly denied a petition that sought the release of thousands of inmates from state prisons to better protect them from contracting COVID-19.
In a 5-4 decision, the court concluded inmates who filed the request failed to show the state was failing to address the COVID-19 risk or that the state’s actions “constitute deliberate indifference.”
Justice Debra Stephens signed the two-paragraph order for the majority.  A full opinion is due later.
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