State v. Waldon

¶1 We are asked to determine the correct legal standard to apply when ruling on a motion to seal court records for a vacated criminal conviction under the current version of General Rule (GR) 15. Karen Waldon sought to have her 1985 theft conviction vacated and the court record sealed to assist her in finding new employment. Opposing Waldon’s motion to seal, the State argued that trial courts are constitutionally required to construe GR 15 with the mandatory five-part individualized analysis articulated in Seattle Times Co. v. Ishikawa, 97 Wn.2d 30, 640 P.2d 716 (1982) and that Waldon failed…