|
|
|
Tue Jan 25 2005
James Lobsenz Named Top Seattle Lawyer
James Lobsenz was named one of Seattle's top lawyers in the January 2005 issue of Seattle magazine. He was chosen for his expertise in constitutional law. The list is the result of surveys that were sent to 5,500 randomly selected lawyers in greater Seattle, asking who they would call if a loved one needed a lawyer. Those most frequently named made the final list of 152.
Mr. Lobsenz surmises that his many high-profile cases in defense of equal protection rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion put him in the minds of his peers as a top constitutional lawyer. For example, he successfully represented Sgt. Perry Watkins in his suit against the Army for trying to discharge him because he was gay. Because Sgt. Watkins had always been open and honest about his sexual orientation, and because the Army had allowed him to serve for fifteen years and pursue a military career, the Ninth Circuit held that the Army was equitably estopped from changing its position and seeking to discharge him when Watkins was so close to qualifying for retirement with a full military pension.
Mr. Lobsenz also represented a candidate for public office who wanted to operate his campaign out of a building that he owned. He successfully challenged the City of Seattle, which said that it had rules against political campaign offices being located inside the Pike Place Market Historical District. King County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Barnett agreed that the rules violated the state constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech.
Mr. Lobsenz's expertise in constitutional law extends beyond the courtroom to the classroom; he teaches a course on First Amendment law at the Seattle University School of Law. His 26-year practice has resulted in scores of published decisions in both federal and state courts. Mr. Lobsenz has also been named one of Washington Law and Politics magazine's "Super Lawyers" for each of the past six years.
|
|
|
News
 Recent Cases
Press Releases
Media Coverage
|
|
|
"The criminal justice system is
not perfect by any means. Mistakes are made
and innocent people are wrongfully convicted.
Trial judges make serious errors, and
prosecutors and police sometimes engage in unfair
and illegal conduct in a misguided zealous effort
to punish the bad guy.”
— James Lobsenz
|
|
|
|
