As many as 542 marijuana possession convictions in Seattle are expected to be vacated by mid-November. The Seattle Municipal Court issued an order on Monday defining the process.
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According to the court order, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office will provide Seattle Municipal Court with each defendant’s last known address. The court will then mail a notice to each defendant, providing each person the opportunity to object to their conviction being vacated or to ask for individualized findings. Thirty-three days after the notice has been mailed, which will be mid-November, each person who has not responded will have their conviction automatically vacated.
In 2012, through Initiative 502’s approval, state criminal penalties for possession of personal use of marijuana for adults were eliminated.
Earlier this year, a motion to vacate the prior convictions was made by Mayor Jenny Durkan and City Attorney Pete Holmes. In April, Seattle filed a motion asking the Seattle Municipal Court to vacate the convictions for Possession of Marijuana from 1996 to 2010.
"We've come a long way, and I hope this action inspires other jurisdictions to follow suit," Holmes said. "Five hundred and fourty-two people have criminal records for holding something we can buy in retail storefronts today. In two short months, thanks to our Seattle Municipal Court judges, those convictions will be history."
You can confirm whether members of the public have a misdemeanor marijuana possession conviction by visiting the Seattle Municipal Court's portal and clicking on "Defendant Search" in the left-hand toolbar. Any members of the public who need clarification on their marijuana possession conviction may call the Seattle Municipal Court at 206-684-5600.
Cox Media Group
