The revised rule says court records can be sealed only when judges identify, in writing, "compelling privacy or safety concerns that outweigh the public interest in access to the court record."

The rule also says that the mere wish of the parties for secrecy does not justify sealing records, and that a judge should try to redact, or black out, specific passages that raise privacy concerns rather than sealing an entire document.

The Seattle Times published a story Sunday that said judges and court commissioners in King County Superior Court have improperly sealed entire files in hundreds of cases dating to 1990. The story and related documents can be read at: www.seattletimes.com/yourcourts

Kent

Man arrested in stabbing incident

A 45-year-old Federal Way man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly stabbed a man during a fight over a woman.

The incident began when the Federal Way man chased a woman as she drove through Kent. The woman called her boyfriend from her car. When the 27-year-old boyfriend caught up, he and the other man got out of their cars and approached each other — one man armed with a knife and the other with a golf club, Kent police say.

The younger man was stabbed in the chest and was taken to Harborview Medical Center; his condition is unknown. The 45-year-old man was booked into the Kent jail.

Bainbridge Island

Man charged with molestation

A 52-year old Bainbridge Island attorney who police say has been involved with Scouting events and youth sports has been charged with first-degree child molestation for a series of incidents involving a 10-year-old boy, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff's Department.

John Harlan Fawley was arrested Wednesday evening at his home.

Sheriff's detectives began investigating in February after allegations surfaced that Fawley had molested a boy he had known over a period of time, according to Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Hauge.

Fawley, who had been a coach and administrator with the youth organizations, remains in the Kitsap County Jail on $50,000 bail.

Because Fawley was involved with local Boy Scout events, was on the board of the Bainbridge Island Youth Soccer Club and was involved in other community activities, law-enforcement officials say they are concerned about the possibility of more underage victims.

"We're still trying to sort out the extent of his community activities," said Hauge.

Seattle

Most following new recycling rules

Two months after the city of Seattle began enforcing its tough new recycling ordinance, most households and businesses are complying, said the city's solid waste utility.

Of 1.2 million household garbage cans left on sidewalks and in alleys, 360 were left behind for having more than 10 percent recyclable trash in them. Garbage haulers and city inspectors left warning tags on only 487 commercial and residential garbage containers over the past two months.

Olympia

"Deca" proposal dies in Senate

A proposal to ban a potentially toxic flame retardant from use in electronics, furniture and mattresses failed to gain legislative approval this year.

Environmentalists and the state Department of Ecology had recommended phasing out the chemical commonly called "Deca," saying that while it is not harmful itself, it breaks down into chemicals that can cause brain and reproductive problems in animals and could later prove harmful to humans.

The measure ran into trouble in the Senate, where the Association of Washington Business and some fire chiefs helped convince some senators that a ban would be premature.

It's too soon to say whether the proposal will resurface in the next Legislature, said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, environmental health advocate with the Washington Toxics Coalition.

Olympia

'04 challenges are dismissed

The state Supreme Court, tidying up legal remnants of Washington's 2004 governor's race, on Thursday dismissed four challenges to Gov. Christine Gregoire's narrow election victory.

In a 7-2 decision, justices ruled that three election challenges filed by individual voters did not have legal merit to proceed under state law. The fourth case, which had better legal footing, was dismissed because it mirrored the state Republican Party's failed court case against the election.

Four Washingtonians filed the cases in January 2005, around the time Gregoire was declared the winner by 129 votes.

Her Republican opponent in the race, Dino Rossi, and the state GOP challenged the outcome in court.

Their case convinced Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges of Wenatchee that 1,678 illegal votes were cast in the election, out of 2.9 million. But Bridges said there wasn't evidence of how those illegal voters marked their ballots. So Gregoire's victory stood.

Times staff and news services

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