Washington State Bar Ass'n v. State

Andersen, J.* —

Facts of The Case

In this case we determine the constitutionality of a statute which was intended to nullify a general rule of court adopted by this court, and which directly and unavoidably conflicts with that rule of court. We hold that the statute in question, which declares the Washington State Bar Association a "public employer” subject to the Public Employees’ Collective Bargaining Act, RCW 41.56, to be unconstitutional in that it violates the separation of powers doctrine.

This action grew out of a labor dispute between the Washington State Bar Association (Bar…