For Chris
Grief fuels her to strive,
In Olympia, alive,
For safe roads, we thrive.
Cammryn Gadd, the widow of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd (Chris), has turned her heartbreaking loss into a mission to save lives. Chris was killed on March 2, 2024, when an impaired driver slammed into his patrol...
The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is Back – Season 5 Premiere!
The wait is over—The Velvet Hammer™ Podcast is back with Season 5, and this time, Karen Koehler is joined by Mo Hamoudi for a brand-new season of unfiltered, honest, and thought-provoking conversations.
🎙 Stream the Podcast Now! Spotify:...
The Enduring Relevance of History in Modern Civil Rights Cases
For Derrick
History does not die
It is a witness
With fingers unfurled
Dawn's first light
The burdened chest
The clenched fist
Wisps of grass, dirt
History stands
Tall and handsome
It sings "rise, rise!"
- M.H.
The Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, also known...
The More Things Change: Challenger Disaster and Modern Aviation Lessons
January 28, 2025, is the 39th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger’s tragic explosion shortly after launch over the ocean in Florida, which in 1986 took the lives of all the brave, talented, and optimistic astronauts on board. A defective...
Tragic Pedestrian Death Highlights Rail Crossing Dangers
On a beautiful sunny winter day this week, a man was killed at Alaskan Way and Broad Street at the Seattle waterfront. Although investigation is ongoing, he may well have failed to appreciate that after a train had passed, it was not safe to cross...
Blast Balls, Flash Bangs and the Seattle City Council
Today, I testified for the 1 minute allowed by the Seattle City Council on the issue of lifting bans on using blast balls, flash bangs, and other munitions against protesters.
Before testifying, I wrote a long letter with 23 illustrated stories of some of the 51 clients we represented...
Tragic Tree-Fall Accident on Highway U.S. 2 Claims Two Lives
On December 18, 2024, a tree fell on a box truck on Highway U.S. 2 (also known as State Route 2) near the Spokane Airport exit. In the blink of an eye, it killed the two occupants. WSP photos of the tree show it was obviously dead, and obviously tall enough to...
VP Kamala Harris Recognizes Injured Motorcycle Officer for his Bravery and Service
Seattle, WA - December 6, 2024: Today, Officer Kevin Bereta and his wife made the arduous journey to Washington, D.C., at the personal invitation of Vice President Kamala Harris.
On August 15, 2023, while protecting the VP on her visit to Seattle, Officer Bereta plunged 30 feet from...
Join the Courtroom Crusade!
Hey there! Let's chat, virtually, on December 11, 2024, about pro bono work and why it's such a big deal in the legal world. Imagine it as the legal profession's way of paying it forward, giving lawyers a chance to make a real difference while sharpening their skills and I promise:...
Don’t Stop, Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Relentless, we press on
Through legal storms and strife
Federal judges may scorn us
State judges may chide
Yet we stand our ground, unyielding
We embrace the cases others shun
Side by side in the trenches, we toil
Weathering verbal assaults
And the weary defense’s salvos
For justice is no easy conquest
Not for those who wield power
Or the faint-hearted who fear...