Dave Larson

David A. Larson (born 1958) is an American lawyer and jurist from the U.S. State of Washington. A nonpartisan office, Larson was appointed as City of Federal Way Municipal Judge in 2008, and was formally elected in 2009, and elected again in 2013. He has never won a contested election.[1]

Dave Larson
Dave Larson (born 1958) is an American lawyer and jurist from the U.S. State of Washington.
Judge of the Federal Way, Washington Municipal Court
Assumed office
2008
Personal details
Born (1958-01-01) January 1, 1958
Federal Way, Washington, U.S.
Spouse(s)Debby
Alma materUniversity of Puget Sound (B.A.) Seattle University School of Law

His long career as a trial lawyer is best known for spearheading the landmark School Fair Funding Case,[2] which was ultimately reversed by the Washington State Supreme Court.[3]

Larson is best known to the citizens of Washington State as one of the attorneys who helped stop the former owners of the Seahawks from moving the team from Seattle.[4]

Early life, education, and law career

Larson was born in 1958 and was raised in Federal Way, Washington,[5] where he attended Federal Way Public Schools.[5] He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Puget Sound in 1980 and his J.D. degree from Seattle University School of Law in 1984.[5]

In 1986, Judge Larson began his own private practice. He spent the 23 next years as a trial lawyer.[6]

Political career

In 2000, Larson unsuccessfully ran for Justice for the Washington State Supreme Court. Larson is currently running for Justice for the Washington State Supreme Court.[7]

Judicial career

Larson was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Metropolitan Court in 2008. He was formally elected to the same bench in 2009, and elected again in 2013.

Federal Way School Board v. State of Washington

In 2006 the Federal Way School Board brought a lawsuit against the State of Washington to obtain greater income equity for teachers and staff. The lawsuit was nicknamed the Fair Funding action.

Dave Larson was a member of the Federal Way school board during the lawsuit, and with his considerable experience as a trial attorney, Larson was the architect of the Fair Funding lawsuit.

About the school board's motivation for the Fair Funding lawsuit, Dave Larson explained "They're using a 1970s system to fund 21st century expectations."

At the time the lawsuit began against the State of Washington, Federal Way ranked 263 out of the 296 districts in dollars-per-student funding.[8]

Federal Way is the seventh-largest school district in the state. If the district had received the same amount as the highest-funded districts in the state, in the 2006-2007 school year, when the lawsuit was started, Federal Way could have received an additional $11.5 million in funding.[9]

Judge Heavey, presiding over the lower court, ruled in favor of the School Board. Further, he found that "the disparate funding violates the constitutional equal protection rights of Federal Way's teachers, students and taxpayers," Judge Heavey said in his published court opinion.[10]

Dave Larson opined "It feels good that... (Judge Heavey) ruled the way he did. Justice was done today. It's really the end of an era for Federal Way schools," said Larson.[11]

Further, Dave Larson predicted that the State of Washington would file an appeal with the Washington Supreme Court. Larson mused that the Washington Supreme Court would likely grant the State a stay, and give the Legislature the opportunity to make immediate changes "to do the right thing. They can't ignore it" Larson predicted.[12]

However, in November 2009 the Washington Supreme Court sided with the State and overturned the lower court's decision.[13][2]

Seahawks Season Ticket Holders v. (The previous owners of the) Seahawks

[14]

Personal life

Larson married his wife, Debby, in 1982. They have two boys: Andrew and Joshua.

Awards, positions, and honors
  • 2014 Recipient of the Judge William Nevins Justice Award, presented by former Chief Justice Gerry Alexander of the Washington Judge's Foundation[15]
  • Member of the Legislative Committee, Technology Committee, and Long-Range Planning Committee of the District and Municipal Court Judges Association (DMCJA)[5]
  • Past member of the Rules Committee and the Education Committee.[5]
  • DMCJA representative to the Washington State Bar Association Council on Public Legal Education and the DMCJA representative to the Data Management Steering Committee[5]
  • Instructor at the Washington State Judicial College[5]
  • AV Peer Review Rating as a lawyer. Per Martindale-Hubbell "(An AV Peer Review Rating) is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him...at the highest level of professional excellence."[5]
  • Member of the City of Federal Way Human Services Commission[5]
  • Chair of the City of Federal Way Board of Ethics from 1991-94.[5]
  • Former Member of the Federal Way School Board[5]
  • Former commander of the Civil Air Patrol (Air Force Auxiliary) Squadron at McChord AFB[5]
  • Founder of the Aktion Club of Federal Way for disabled people[5]
  • Former President of the Washington State Kiwanis[5]
  • Former Scout Leader and other positions in the Boy Scouts of America[5]
  • Former Little League and Junior Football Coach[5]

References
  1. "Federal Way Judge Dave Larson seeks Supreme Court seat". The Olympian. May 2, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  2. "School district wins fair funding lawsuit". Federal Way Mirror. November 6, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  3. "Federal Way School District loses fair funding lawsuit". Federal Way Mirror. November 12, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  4. "Seahawk season-ticket holders sue". Ellensburg Daily Record. February 8, 1996. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  5. "Judge David A. Larson". City of Federal Way. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  6. "Popular Federal Way judge running for state Supreme Court". Federal Way Mirror. June 6, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  7. "Celebrate competitive state Supreme Court races". The Seattle Times. May 26, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  8. http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/18259989.html?mobile=true School district wins fair funding lawsuit
  9. "Federal Way School District loses fair funding lawsuit". Federal Way Mirror. November 12, 2009
  10. http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/18259989.html?mobile=true School district wins fair funding lawsuit
  11. http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/18259989.html?mobile=true School district wins fair funding lawsuit
  12. http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/18259989.html?mobile=true School district wins fair funding lawsuit
  13. "Federal Way School District loses fair funding lawsuit". Federal Way Mirror. November 12, 2009
  14. "Class-Action Suit Targets Behring Season-Ticket Holders Join Kingdome Businesses In Suit". Spokesman.com. February 8, 1996. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  15. "Federal Way judge honored with prestigious award". Federal Way Mirror. October 14, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
Legal offices
Preceded by
 Judge of the Metropolitan Court of the City of Federal Way
2008–present		 Incumbent
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