Raymond Charles McFarland

Private Practice

I have tried over 100 felony jury trials in over 25 years as a criminal lawyer, first as a prosecutor in King County and now as a criminal defense lawyer.

I have appeared in most courts in Western Washington and regularly accept referrals for cases in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Thurston and Kitsap Counties.  I will also occasionally accept referrals for cases in other counties.

I opened my law office in 1992 and limit my practice to criminal defense.  I emphasize crimes of violence, including murder and manslaughter, assaults, robbery, domestic violence and sexual assaults (rape, indecent liberties, child molestation, etc.).  I also handle all levels of drug offenses and property crimes (such as theft, fraud, malicious mischief, burglary, etc.) as well as criminal traffic offenses (vehicular homicide & assault, reckless driving, and hit & run).  I handle both felonies and misdemeanors and my clients include both adults and juveniles.

I have represented hundreds of clients of many nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, including Arab, Caribbean, Chinese, East African, Filipino, Greek, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Pacific Islander, Palestinian, Russian, Sikh, Turk and Ukrainian. I speak Spanish and have extensive experience in Mexico and Latin America. I have represented numerous clients of Hispanic origin.

Judge Pro Tem, King County Juvenile Court

I served as a judge pro tem in the Juvenile Division of King County Superior Court for about five years from 2000 – 2005.  I presided over numerous trials and participated in the daily operation of the court. 

Senior Deputy Prosecutor, King County Prosecutor’s Office

I worked for Norm Maleng in the Criminal Division of the King County Prosecutor’s Office from 1983 to 1990 and handled all types of cases, including aggravated murder, serious violent assaults, and adult and child sexual assaults. 

Other Experience

King County Bar Association, Seattle:

   o    Board of Trustees, 1998 – 2001

   o    Awards Committee, 2001 – 2004

   o    Chair, Equitable Compensation for Assigned Counsel Task Force, 1999

   o    Judicial Screening Committee, 1995 – 2000 (Co-Chair, 1999 - 2000)

   o    Judicial Evaluation Committee, 1995 – 1998 (Chair, 1997-98)

Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL):

   o    Legislative Committee, 2000-01, 2002-03

   o    Co-Chair, Office of Public Defense Assigned Counsel Task Force, 1999-  2000

   o    Prosecutorial Misconduct Task Force, 2002-03

I have testified on behalf of WACDL at legislative committee hearings in

Olympia regarding proposed legislation related to felony murder and

reimbursement of attorney fees in self-defense cases.

In 2008, I served on the City of Seattle's Public Defense RFP Review Panel for Seattle Municipal Court public defense services.

In 2002-03, I was an Instructor for the University of Washington's Private Investigator State Certification Program.

I have written a few articles over the years on various topics for the King County

Bar Bulletin and WACDL Defense magazine.

I have also given several CLE presentations over the years for WACDL and while

I was in the King County Prosecutor’s Office, and I have given presentations for the paralegal training programs at Edmonds and Highline Community Colleges.