King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell today granted the City’s request for a full review of the legality of an order that Seattle Municipal Court Presiding Judge Karen Donahue made in a sexual exploitation case brought this year by the City Attorney’s Office (CAO).
The hearing on Nov. 27, before Judge O’ Donnell, will explore whether the lower court judge exceeded her authority and infringed on CAO’s prosecutorial discretion in ordering the prosecution to consider diversion for a man charged with sexual exploitation, a simple misdemeanor formerly labeled patronizing a prostitute. The name change, approved by the City Council and Mayor in January 2015, accompanied Holmes’ policy change to place more emphasis on sex buyers while connecting prostituted people with social services.
“I’m grateful that Judge O’Donnell recognized the serious implications on prosecutorial discretion,” City Attorney Pete Holmes said after the hearing, “and I look forward to presenting a fuller case to the court.”