Blomstrom v. Tripp

Washington Supreme Court·Decided October 5, 2017·No. 91642-0·Published

Opinion

I nis opinion was Tiieo rorraicora

yFTHEV IN CLiMn omcf X

DATE Tzii SUS/TN L. CAI^SON FrT( SUPREME COURT CLERK CHIEF JUSTICE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

CORTNEY L. BLOMSTROM,

Petitioner,

V.

No. 91642-0

The Honorable GREGORY J. TRIPP, in his official capacity as a Spokane County En Banc District Court Judge, and the SPOKANE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT, Filed OCT 0 5 211

Respondents.

BROOKE M. BUTTON,

Petitioner,

V.

The Honorable GREGORY J. TRIPP, in his official capacity as a Spokane County District Court Judge, and the SPOKANE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT,

Respondents.

CHRISTOPHER V. COOPER,

Petitioner,

V.

The Honorable GREGORY J. TRIPP, in his official capacity as a Spokane County District Court Judge, and the SPOKANE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT,

Respondents.

Blomstrom, et al. v. Hon. Tripp, et al. No. 91642-0

WIGGINS, J.—This case Involves three driving under the influence (DUI)

defendants challenging their pretriai urinalysis testing conditions. Each defendant was arrested for DUI, and each was ordered to participate in random urinalysis testing as a condition of pretriai release. The defendants challenged their testing conditions by petitioning for a writ of review with the Spokane County Superior Court. The superior court denied the applications for a writ.

We reverse the decision of the superior court. We hold that Cortney Blomstrom, Brooke Button, and Christopher Cooper are entitled to statutory writs of review because they lack an adequate remedy at law to challenge their pretriai release conditions and because their urinalysis testing requirements contravene article I, section 7 of the Washington State Constitution.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Each of the three petitioners was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).

Two petitioners had high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) but no previous DUI arrests, while the third petitioner had allegedly used marijuana and had a previous DUI conviction.

A. Blomstrom Cortney Blomstrom was arrested for DUI on February 1, 201S.'' Clerk's Papers (CP) at 39. A breath test showed a BAC^ of 0.191 and 0.184. Verbatim Report of

^ DUI is a gross misdemeanor, except in specific circumstances not applicable here. ROW 46.61.502. 2 BAC is calculated as grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. ROW 46.61.506(2)(a). The legal limit in Washington is 0.08 BAC. RCW 46.61.502(1 )(a).

Blomstrom, et al. v. Hon. Tripp, et al. No. 91642-0

Proceedings (RP) Feb. 2, 2015 (RP Blomstrom) at 1. Blomstrom had no criminal record. Id. at 2.

At Blomstrom's first appearance, the State requested four times monthly random urinalysis testing as a condition of release. Id. The State pointed to a series of studies by the United States Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which found that an individual with a BAG over 0.15 is "fa[r] more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash as well as more likely to reoffend."^ Id. Blomstrom objected, citing her lack of criminal record and arguing that the other conditions—requiring "nonuse, possession, or consumption [of alcohol and drugs]"—^were adequate to protect public safety. Id.

The court imposed twice monthly random urinalysis testing, concluding that

[bjecause of the high BAG, because of the facts of this case, because of the argument of counsel I do find that there is a likelihood that you would reoffend and . . . possibly believe consuming alcohol would be a risk to public safety as well.

Id. at 3. The court further ordered Blomstrom to abstain from possessing or using any alcohol or unprescribed drugs. Id.

B. Cooper Ghristopher Gooper was arrested for DUI on February 7, 2015. GP at 26. The

arresting officer noted an open bottle of whiskey on the floorboard, about a quarter empty; Gooper allegedly admitted "that he had just come from a bar." RP Feb. 9,

3 NHTSA, U.S. Dep'tofTransp., Pub No. 811870, Traffic Safety Facts: Alcohol-Impaired Driving: 2012 Data (Dec. 2013); NHTSA, U.S. Dep't of Transp., Pub No. 812101, Traffic Safety Facts: Alcohol-Impaired Driving: 2013 Data (Dec. 2014); NHTSA, U.S. Dep't of Transp., Pub No. 812350, Traffic Safety Facts: Alcohol-Impaired Driving: 2015 Data (Dec. 2016).

Blomstrom, et al. y. Hon. Tripp, et al. No. 91642-0

2015 (RP Cooper) at 2. Cooper's breath test registered a BAC of 0.175 and 0.174. Id. at 1. Cooper had never been convicted of an alcohol- or drug-related offense and had no prior DDI arrests. CP at 26-28.

At Cooper's first appearance, the State requested four times monthly random urinalysis testing as a condition of release. RP Cooper at 1. Again, the State relied on the NHTSA studies "indicating that above a .15 [BAC] an individual is far more likely to both reoffend and be involved in a fatal accident." Id. at 2. The State also suggested that Cooper's "pretty lengthy driving record ... would warrant testing." Id. at 3.

Cooper's counsel objected, arguing that "there's no indication he wouldn't follow the Court's orders not to use, possess, or consume [alcohol] or that he would be a danger to society or reoffend . . . ." Id. Counsel further objected to the testing requirements "on State v. Rose^^^ grounds." Id.

The court imposed four times monthly urinalysis testing based on Cooper's "record[,] . . . the studies which [the prosecutor] has indicated, [and] the high blow which is more than two times the legal limit." Id. at 5-6. In light of these findings, the court concluded that "we have to put something in place that will reduce the danger to the community . . . under [Criminal Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJ)] 3.2(d)(10). So, that's what I'm going to do in this case." Id. The court further ordered Cooper to abstain from all use or possession of alcohol or unprescribed drugs. Id. at

^ 146 Wn. App. 439, 191 P.3d 83 (2008) (holding that two defendants' pretrial testing conditions violated court rules and that a third defendant's pretrial testing conditions were unconstitutional).

Blomstrom, et al. v. Hon. Tripp, et al. No. 91642-0

5-6. The court noted that Cooper could ask the court to reconsider the conditions imposed "at any time." Id. at 6.

C. Button Brooke Button was arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana. RP Mar. 2, 2015(RP Button) at 3. Button was arrested over the weekend, at which point probable cause was determined and initial pretrial release conditions were purportedly imposed.® Id. at 1. Button's first appearance in court was on the following Monday. Id.

Button's criminal record largely consisted of minor theft and driving infractions, as well as a 2009 conviction for DUI in Idaho.® CP at 92-94; RP Button at 3. There was no evidence concerning the nature of the substance involved in Button's 2009 DUI conviction. RP Button at 5. Button also had three previous charges for failing to install an ignition interlock device (IID)^ in 2011. CP at 92-94.

At Button's first appearance, the State requested four times monthly random urinalysis testing. RP Button at 2. The State emphasized Button's prior DUI conviction, and described the three charges for failing to install an IID as "a bit troubling ... from the position of whether or not she's going to follow court orders not to use, possess, or consume" alcohol or drugs. Id. at 5. Button's counsel objected, noting that "there was no alcohol in this allegation. It was strictly a marijuana

® No order Is available In the record. ® There Is no evidence In the record supporting the 2009 Idaho DUI conviction. However, the petitioners also refer to the conviction In briefing. Pet'rs' Opening Br. at 6 (citing the prosecutor's statements at the first appearance hearing). ^ An Ignition Interlock device detects alcohol In the breath and. If alcohol Is present, renders the vehicle Inoperable. ROW 43.43.395(3).

Blomstrom, et al. v. Hon. Tripp, et al. No. 91642-0

allegation." Id. at 4. Counsel requested that the court not impose the testing requirement. Id.

The court agreed with the State that four times monthly urinalysis testing was appropriate:

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