Robert S. Lasnik

Robert S. Lasnik
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Assumed office
January 27, 2016
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
In office
2004–2011
Preceded by John C. Coughenour
Succeeded by Marsha J. Pechman
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
In office
October 22, 1998 – January 27, 2016
Appointed by Bill Clinton
Preceded by Carolyn R. Dimmick
Personal details
Born Robert S. Lasnik
1951 (age 66–67)
Staten Island, New York
Education Brandeis University (A.B.)
Northwestern University (M.S., M.A.)
University of Washington School of Law (J.D.)

Robert S. Lasnik (born 1951) is a Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Education and career

Born in Staten Island, New York, Lasnik received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Brandeis University in 1972 and a Master of Science in journalism from Northwestern University in 1973, a Master of Arts in education also from Northwestern University in 1974, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law in 1978.

From 1978 to 1990, Lasnik worked in the office of the King County Prosecuting Attorney, including five years as a deputy prosecutor (from 1978 to 1981), two years as a senior deputy prosecutor (from 1981 to 1983), and seven years as chief of staff to longtime King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng (from 1983 to 1990). In his time with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office, Lasnik prosecuted a number of high profile cases, many with future King County Superior Court Judge William L. Downing. The pair prosecuted three cases stemming from the Wah Mee Massacre, the infamous 1983 robbery-homicide that ended in the murder of thirteen employees and patrons of the Wah Mee Club in Seattle's International District.[1] Lasnik and Downing also successfully prosecuted David Lewis Rice, who on Christmas Eve in 1986 murdered all four members of a prominent Seattle family based on the mistaken belief they were part of a Jewish-communist conspiracy.[2]

Lasnik served as a superior court judge on the King County Superior Court from 1990 to 1998. While on the Superior Court bench, Lasnik made important rulings involving the Seattle Mariners' stadium and in 1995 ruled that the University of Washington regents violated the Open Meetings Act in their search for a new president.

Federal judicial service

Lasnik was nominated to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington by President Bill Clinton on May 11, 1998, to a seat vacated by Carolyn R. Dimmick. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 21, 1998, and received his commission on October 22, 1998. He served as chief judge from 2004 to 2011. He assumed senior status on January 27, 2016.

Notable case

Lasnik temporarily blocked Seattle's first-in-the-nation law allowing drivers of ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft to unionize over pay and working conditions.[3]

On August 27, 2018, Judge Lasnik blocked the Defense Distributed and its founder, Cody Wilson, from posting 3D-printed gun blueprints online. Judge Lasnik first imposed a temporary restraining order on Wilson, but that was due to expire, so he mandated a preliminary injunction that blocks online distribution in the United States while the legal proceedings are ongoing.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Haeck, Tim (February 19, 2013). "Remembering a heroic witness 30 years after Wah Mee Massacre". MyNorthwest.com. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. ↑ Batsell, Jake (October 10, 1997). "Goldmark Slayer To Get New Trial". Seattle Times. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Judge puts on hold Seattle law allowing a ride-hailing union". AP News. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  4. ↑ Vanian, Jonathan (2018-08-27). "3D-Printed Gun Blueprints Aren't Allowed Online, Federal Judge Rules". Fortune. Retrieved 2018-08-28.

Sources

Legal offices
Preceded by
Carolyn R. Dimmick		 Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
1998–2016		 Vacant
Preceded by
John C. Coughenour		 Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
2004–2011		 Succeeded by
Marsha J. Pechman
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.