The Smith & White Blog

Some Washington crimes can be committed in more than one legally defined way. When a single statute describes one offense but lists multiple ways of committing it, lawyers often call it an “alternative means” crime. This matters because it affects how juries reach a verdict. It can also create appeal issues when the prosecution argues […]

If you have been served with court papers or told you cannot contact someone, the first question usually isn’t legal vocabulary. It’s practical: what does this order actually do, how long does it last, and what happens if you get it wrong? In Washington, protection orders and no-contact orders can look similar on paper, but […]

Violating your probation, even accidentally, can come with consequences in Washington. Our lawyers can help you prepare for what might happen at a probation violation hearing and avoid the worst possible consequence: having your suspended sentence revoked. If you violate the conditions of your probation in Washington, your probation officer may arrest you without a […]

Numerous laws and restrictions govern guns and firearms, and not just anyone may possess one. While you might legally have a gun, you may not always be able to loan that gun to someone else. While there are some exceptions, you generally cannot loan a weapon to others without following specific laws. When loaning a […]

Can a domestic violence court order–a criminal no contact or a civil protection order– prevent someone from legally possessing a firearm in Washington State? Courts across the country have recently been asked to answer this question as challenges to firearm restrictions under the Second Amendment continue to evolve. A recent Washington case, State v. Bell, […]

When multiple individuals are involved in a single violent encounter, determining who is legally responsible for specific injuries can become a complex and highly contested issue. In State v. Miles, the court addressed whether a defendant could rely on another participant’s guilty plea to shift blame and whether excluding that evidence undermined the defendant’s right to […]

While we have a Second Amendment right to bear arms, this right is not without limits. You must be legally eligible to have a firearm, and you must have a gun license. The gun must also be purchased through legal channels. If you are caught with an unlawful firearm, you may face serious legal consequences. […]

When you carry a gun, you must be careful, as even accidental legal violations can lead to serious consequences. This includes carrying a gun in your car, which is legal but only under certain conditions. You may carry a gun in your car, but you must do so in accordance with strict laws. First, you […]

Drunk and drugged driving is obviously illegal, and many drivers take these laws seriously.  However, when you take prescription drugs, you might not understand exactly how these often lifesaving medications interact with DUI laws. Generally speaking, you can be arrested and convicted of DUI regardless of what drugs you had in your system.  It makes […]

A DUI arrest in Washington can trigger a driver’s license suspension quickly. You may also face separate license consequences if the court later enters a DUI conviction. To protect your ability to drive, you need to understand the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) process, the hearing deadline, and your options during any suspension. How DUI […]