Court Opinion

ID: 9602413
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:54:31.541952+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:48:26.200717
License: Public Domain

Dolliver, J.
(concurring) — I concur with the majority opinion since the constitutional validity of the statute (RCW 9A.72.120) does not seem in doubt. However, I believe it is important and appropriate to comment on what is the background and the unforeseen impact of this legislation.
The majority brushes aside the contention that parties to a plea bargain could run afoul of the statute. Contrary to the majority, I believe a serious problem can arise and is illustrated by this case.
While the majority accurately recites the barebones facts of the case, there is some additional uncontroverted information which is important: (1) The affidavit of the hearing officer at the license revocation hearing states:
That I am the Hearing Officer for the Department of Motor Vehicles and have been employed in that capacity *589for many years last past. I have heard a substantial number of license revocation hearings; the administrative hearing is more popularly referred to as a "242 Hearing". It is a rarity when the State of Washington and/or the Department of Motor Vehicles is represented by legal counsel. As a normal course, the only individuals present at the administrative hearing is the accused, the accused's attorney, myself and the arresting officer. The arresting officer sits in a dual capacity, that being as the prosecuting witness and as a prosecuting attorney.
(2) The affidavit of the city prosecutor for Bellevue states:
In early, 1977, what might have been late January or early February, Mr. Stroh approached me for the purposes of compromising a charge brought by Officer Kasnick against his client, Mr. Berryman. I discussed plea bargaining with Mr. Stroh in the coffee room at Bellevue District Court. Mr. Stroh asked me if I would approach Officer Kasnick about compromising the administrative hearing to see if Officer Kasnick would be willing not to give testimony at that hearing. I told him that I did not have any influence in that area and would not approach Officer Kasnick on the subject. I told him he would have to talk to Officer Kasnick. Since I cannot remember the specifics of the actual conversation with Mr. Stroh but will not deny that I may have told him to "have at it", and that the decision lies solely with Officer Kasnick.
On or about March 3, 1977,1 received a carbon copy of a letter sent to Officer Kasnick from Attorney, Hugh Stroh. I did not contact or communicate with Hugh Stroh after receiving the letter until the Petition for Deferred Prosecution of Ronald Berryman was heard in Court.
I was not aware of the existence of RCW 9A.72.120 until I was contacted regarding the investigation of Mr. Stroh.
(3) The record indicates Mr. Stroh's client had been arrested three times by the same arresting officer for driving while intoxicated. On all three occasions, including the arrest which is the subject of this case, the charges against Mr. Stroh's client were either reduced or dismissed. Indeed, *590in this case the charges against Mr. Stroh's client were dismissed by the Department of Motor Vehicles' hearing officer at the license revocation hearing.
(4) The letter referred to by the Bellevue City Prosecutor, which apparently is the basis of this action by the King County Prosecutor, was received by both the arresting officer and the Bellevue prosecutor on the same day. It was not regarded as being of such impropriety or illegality that the Bellevue prosecutor felt impelled to contact or communicate with Mr. Stroh and he did not see him until the petition for deferred prosecution for Mr. Stroh's client was heard in court.
From all of the above, it can be seen that Mr. Stroh was openly and with the knowledge of the Bellevue prosecutor attempting to plea bargain with the prosecutor at the revocation hearing. Unfortunately for Mr. Stroh, the person acting as prosecuting attorney in the revocation hearing was also the only witness for the prosecution. Neither the Bellevue prosecutor nor Mr. Stroh understood the actions of Mr. Stroh or his letter to be illegally tampering with a witness.
There is a further note of chronological interest. On March 3, 1977, Mr. Stroh sent the offending letter to the arresting officer and a carbon copy was also received by the Bellevue prosecutor. On March 23, 1977, the revocation hearing was held and the charge brought by the arresting officer dismissed — the third time Mr. Stroh had prevailed over the arresting officer. On March 25, 1977, 3 weeks after the letter but only 2 days after his third defeat by Mr. Stroh, the arresting officer contacted the King County Prosecutor and alleged a violation of RCW 9A.72.120.
We have recently specifically upheld plea bargaining. State v. Tourtellotte, 88 Wn.2d 579, 564 P.2d 799 (1977). In this case, if the prosecuting witness and the King County Prosecuting Attorney prevail, an attempt to plea bargain will result in a felony conviction and possible disbarment. This would not only result in irreparable harm to the *591defendant, but would also have a deleterious impact on the administration of justice in this state.
Since the court finds RCW 9A.72.120 not to be unconstitutional, it cannot and should not overturn the judgment of the legislature. But, as judges, we do have an obligation to bring to the attention of the legislature statutes which are harmful to the administration of justice. This is the impact of RCW 9A.72.120 as it is applied in this case.
Brachtenbach and Hicks, JJ., concur with Dolliver, J.