Staples v. Benton County

This case involves a claim brought by former Superior Court Judge Fred R. Staples, who is seeking a judicial determination that Benton County has unlawfully moved certain offices of county government from the city of Prosser to the city of Kennewick in violation of article XI, section 2 of the Washington State Constitution. Staples filed a petition for writ of mandamus with the trial court, directing the county commissioner to move the county offices that are located at the justice center in Kennewick back to the county seat in Prosser. The trial court held there was no state constitutional…