A King County judge has rejected a request to block the city of Seattle from disclosing records that would identify police officers who participated in a pro-Donald Trump rally in Washington, D.C., before last year’s attack on the U.S. Capitol. Superior Court Judge Sandra Widlan denied the motion for a preliminary injunction filed by four Seattle officers who want to prevent their identities from being disclosed in records requested by members of the public.
Washington Supreme Court essentially punted the case, ruling its circumstances have changed so much since King County judge’s ruling in March that the court order under appeal is essentially irrelevant, and the matter must be reconsidered. “Review of the preliminary injunction ruling is moot in light of changed circumstances,” states the two-page order, signed by Chief Justice Steven C. Gonzalez. Janet Thoman, one of the attorneys representing Sueoka, said Wednesday her team is “pleased that we prevailed again, that the PRA prevailed again.”
Neil Fox, an attorney representing Seattle University law student Sam Sueoka — one of four individuals who sought records from the Seattle Police Department to identify the officers — said Wednesday his team will immediately refile that motion in King County Superior Court, arguing the officers must “reveal their identities if they want to pursue their lawsuit.”
Sueoka contends the police identities are a matter of public record and citizens should have the right to know if publicly employed officers are engaging in off-duty conduct, such as the “Stop the Steal” rally before the Capitol insurrection, that throws their professionalism into question. The officers argue their names should be kept private because they attended the rally off-duty to express free speech rights as private citizens, and would face harassment and threats if they’re identified.
If they don’t appeal by Feb. 8, the city can release records identifying the officers to Seattle University law student Sam Sueoka and others who’ve asked for them under the state’s Public Records Act. Aric Bomsztyk, an attorney hired by the Seattle Police Officers Guild to represent the officers, said in an email Wednesday his firm planned to challenge the latest ruling. “We appreciate the Court’s time, but we are disappointed with the ruling,” Bomsztyk said. “There are important privacy and Constitutional interests which need to be recognized and upheld. We plan on appealing the Court’s decision.”
