Opinion ID: 2617087
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Scope of the Certified Questions

Text: When a federal court certifies a question to this Court, this Court answers only the discrete question certified and lacks jurisdiction to go further. Louisiana-Pacific Corp. v. Asarco Inc., 131 Wash.2d 587, 604, 934 P.2d 685 (1997) (We do not have jurisdiction to go beyond the specific question presented by the Certification Order.) (citing Bird-Johnson Corp. v. Dana Corp., 119 Wash.2d 423, 425 n. 1, 833 P.2d 375 (1992)). Here we are not asked to grant or deny review of any issues relating to or challenging Shumway's conviction. Indeed, the record does not even contain a copy of Shumway's federal habeas corpus petition. The only questions before this Court are those certified, i.e., whether this Court may review Shumway's conviction at this juncture upon a proper showing by Shumway. Obviously, this Court may review Shumway's conviction by either: (1) granting a petition for discretionary review; or (2) granting a second personal restraint petition (PRP) filed directly in this Court. The State's response is that this Court would not in fact entertain either of these petitions on their merits if they were filed at this late date. But we are not asked whether this Court would but rather whether it may grant review.