Washington Water Jet Workers Ass'n v. Yarbrough

(dissenting) — The majority has determined that it is constitutionally permissible for the Washington State Department of Corrections (Department) to enter into contracts with private businesses to employ prisoners in the production of goods and services for sale in the public and private sectors. Because I disagree with the majority’s assertion that our constitution was meant only to prevent the abuses of the “contract system of labor”15 rather than all contracts for prison labor between the State and private employers, I respectfully dissent.

Article II, section 29 of the Washington State…