State v. Pierce

¶1 When a person in custody unequivocally requests a lawyer, police are obligated under CrR 3.1(c)(2) to make all reasonable efforts to put that person in contact with a lawyer at the earliest opportunity. The remedy for violating this rule is suppression of the evidence tainted by the violation. Furthermore, prosecutors have a duty to secure a verdict free of prejudice and based on reason. A prosecutor’s appeal to the jury’s passion and prejudice violates this duty.

¶2 Pat and Janice Yarr were murdered, and their house was burned down. While the house was still burning, Michael Pierce’s image…