Appointed by X Spouse(s) Debby | Preceded by Judge | |
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Born January 1, 1958 (age 59)
Federal Way, Washington, U.S. ( 1958-01-01 ) Alma mater University of Puget Sound (B.A.)
Seattle University School of Law Education University of Puget Sound, Seattle University School of Law | ||
Dave larson radio interview discussing the washington supreme court
Dave Larson (born 1958) is an American lawyer and jurist from the U.S. State of Washington. A nonpartisan office, Larson was appointed as City of Federal Way Municipal Judge in 2008, and was formally elected in 2009, and elected again in 2013.
Contents
- Dave larson radio interview discussing the washington supreme court
- Judge dave larson awb s endorsed candidate for state supreme court justice
- Early life education and law career
- Political career
- Judicial career
- Federal Way School Board v State of Washington
- Personal life
- Awards positions and honors
- References
His long career as a trial lawyer is best known for spearheadng the landmark School Fair Funding Case, which was ultimately reversed by the Washington State Supreme Court.
Larson is best known to the citizens of Washington State as one of the attorneys who helped stop the former owners of the Seahawks from moving the team from Seattle.
Judge dave larson awb s endorsed candidate for state supreme court justice
Early life, education, and law career
Larson was born in 1958 and was raised in Federal Way, Washington, where he attended Federal Way Public Schools. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Puget Sound in 1980 and law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 1984.
In 1986, Judge Larson began his own private practice. He spent the 23 next years as a trial lawyer.
Political career
In 2000, Larson unsuccessfully ran for Justice for the Washington State Supreme Court. Larson is currently running for Justice for the Washington State Supreme Court.
Judicial career
Larson was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Metropolitan Court in 2008. He was formally elected to the same bench in 2009, and elected again in 2013.
Federal Way School Board v. State of Washington
In 2006 the Federal Way School Board brought a lawsuit against the State of Washington to obtain greater income equity for teachers and staff. The lawsuit was nicknamed the Fair Funding action.
Dave Larson was a member of the Federal Way school board during the lawsuit, and with his considerable experience as a trial attorney, Larson was the architect of the Fair Funding lawsuit.
About the school board's motivation for the Fair Funding lawsuit, Dave Larson explained "They're using a 1970s system to fund 21st century expectations."
At the time the lawsuit began against the State of Washington, Federal Way ranked 263 out of the 296 districts in dollars-per-student funding.
Federal Way is the seventh-largest school district in the state. If the district had received the same amount as the highest-funded districts in the state, in the 2006-2007 school year, when the lawsuit was started, Federal Way could have received an additional $11.5 million in funding.
Judge Heavey, presiding over the lower court, ruled in favor of the School Board. Further, he found that "the disparate funding violates the constitutional equal protection rights of Federal Way's teachers, students and taxpayers," Judge Heavey said in his published court opinion.
Dave Larson opined "It feels good that... (Judge Heavey) ruled the way he did. Justice was done today. It's really the end of an era for Federal Way schools," said Larson.
Further, Dave Larson predicted that the State of Washington would file an appeal with the Washington Supreme Court. Larson mused that the Washington Supreme Court would likely grant the State a stay, and give the Legislature the opportunity to make immediate changes "to do the right thing. They can't ignore it" Larson predicted.
However, in November 2009 the Washington Supreme Court sided with the State and overturned the lower court's decision.
Personal life
Larson married his wife, Debby, in 1982. They have two boys: Andrew and Joshua.