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Travis David Stearns
About Travis
Biography
I have been involved in criminal defense work for over twenty years, practicing first in New York City, then Bellingham and now Seattle. I have represented persons accused of all levels of crimes, with my representation primarily focused on felonies. I have worked both as trial counsel and in the appellate courts and have argued before the Washington State Supreme Court.
I am a tireless advocate for improving the quality of representation of people accused of crimes. I speak frequently for professional associations and at law schools. I have presented for many state and national organzations. I am published in Law Journals.
I have appeareed many times before the Washington State Legislature, where I have had the honor of helping pass several successful bills, including the decriminalization of part of the DWLS 3 statute, reducing the maximum sentence for a gross misdemeanor to 364 days and for requiring that youth sentenced in adult court be given the opportunity for release when serving excessive sentences.
I am also an adujnct professor at Seattle University School of Law, where I teach a course on criminal justice to law students working with prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Washington for 26 years
State: Washington
Acquired: 1999
No misconduct found
Licensed in New York for 31 years
State: New York
Acquired: 1994
No misconduct found
Location
Washington Appellate Project
1511 3rd Avenue #701, Seattle, WA, 98101
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Travis David Stearns's Reviews
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Travis David Stearns's Lawyer Endorsements
"Travis is an energetic and caring lawyer. The entire system has benefitted from his work in the Legislature. He excels at teaching legal trial skills. His commitment to justice is matched by his work to achieve it."
"Travis is a lawyer who cares not only about his clients, but also about the legal principles on which their cases stand. In his current position, he is a valuable resource and mentor to public defenders across the state and beyond. I am proud to know Travis."
"Travis is an innovator and leader in Washington State public defense. As deputy director of the Washington Defender Association, he has revitalized programs designed to reach lawyers across the state and improve their practice. He has been a leader in the Legislature as well, having taken the lead on bills to help immigrants charged with minor offenses and juvenile justice issues. He has written or associated on numerous amicus briefs on criminal defense issues to the Washington Supreme Court. He is an exceptional lawyer, as well as a visionary for public defense, and I am delighted to endorse him."
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Experience
Honors
N/A
Golden Door Award, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
N/A
Appreciation Award, National Defender Investigator Association
Work Experience
2015 - Present
Attorney, Training Director, Washington Appellate Project
2010 - Present
Adjunct Professor, Seattle University School Of Law
2008 - 2015
Deputy Director, Washington Defender Association
1999 - 2008
Attorney, Supervisor, Training Director, Whatcom County Public Defender's Office
1992 - 1992
Law Clerk, The Department of Justice, US Attorneys Office
1992 - 1993
Student Attorney, DC Law Students In Court
1992 - 1999
Attorney, The Legal Aid Society Of New York
Associations
2013 - Present
Washington State Minority and Justice CommissionCommission Member
2013 - Present
National Association of Public DefenseEducation Committee Executive Committee
2013 - Present
Western District of Washington District Court
2011 - Present
National Association of Defense EducatorsExecutive Committee Member
2008 - Present
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
2008 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
2008 - Present
American Counsel of Chief Defenders
1999 - Present
Washington Defender Association
1999 - Present
Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
1999 - Present
Washington State Bar Association
1994 - Present
New York State Bar Association
Sample of Legal Cases
In Re McNeil and Rice
Court found that legislative fix made petition untimely
In Re Thomas
Petition Returned as Mixed
In Re Gomez
Affirmed
State v. Roden
Reversed
State v. Hinton
Reversed
State v. Breitung
Affirmed in Part; Reversed in Part
State v. Sandoval
Reversed
State v. Valdez
Affirmed
Education
1993
George Washington
JD - Juris Doctor
1990
University of Colorado - Boulder
BA, Magna Cum Laude
1989
The Univesity of London
Study Abroad Program
Speaking Engagements
2015
Advanced Trial Advocacy
Defending a Case with Forensic Science
2015
5th Annual Conference on Public Defense
Helping Your Client Post Sentencing Issues
2014
Washington State Office of Public Defense
Fullfilling the Promise of Gideon by Reducing the Burden of LFOs
2014
Washington Defender Association
Visual Aids in Closing Arguments
2014
University of Washington School of Law
Advanced Trial Advocacy: Communication and Case Settlement
2014
University of Washington School of Law
The Promise of Gideon: Public Defense Systems and Standards
2014
Snohomish County Public Defender Association
Developing Theme and Theory in Your Trials
2014
Seattle University School of Law
Criminal Law 101
2014
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
Train the Trainers: Evaluating and Planning Future Training Programs
2014
Municipal and District Court Judges Association
Jury Selection and Batson Challenges
2014
Innocence Project Northwest
Communicating with Clients
2014
Columbia Legal Services
JLWOP Legislative Changes
2013
Washington State Office of Public Defense
Legislative Updates
2013
Washington Defender Association
Trial Advocacy Program: Breaking Down a Case
2013
Washington Defender Association
Strategic Management for Public Defenders
2013
Spokane County Public Defender
Standards and Certification for Indigent Defenders
2013
Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons (SCRAP)
Consequences of a Conviction
2013
Seattle University School of Law
Consequences of a Conviction
2013
National Defender Investigator Association
Interviewing Skills and Protocols
2013
Columbia Legal Services
Legal Finanical Obligations
2012
The Defender Association (TDA)
Effective Client Communication
2012
Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons (SCRAP)
Effective Client Communication
2012
Snohomish County Public Defenders Association
Standards and Certification for Indigent Defenders
2012
Domestic Violence Coalition
Victim Defendants: Building an Advocacy Partnership
2011
Washington Defender Association
Voir Dire and Cross Examination: How to Speak to Jurors and Witnesses about Misconduct
2011
Washington Defender Association
Identifying, Rewarding, and Building Attorney Skills
2011
Washington Defender Association
Standards and Certification for Indigent Defenders
2011
Washington Defender Association
High Profile Cases in the Press: Why Messaging Makes a Difference
2011
University of Washington School of Law
Race and (In) Justice: Challenges of Client Communication and Potential Solutions
2011
Gonzaga University School of Law
Crimmigration: How Immigration Enforcement Is Being Merged Into the Criminal Justice System & Its Impacts on Our Communities
2011
Columbia Legal Services
Discretionary Decline Hearings: Success in the Courtroom
2010
Washington State Superior Court Judges Association
Examining the Effectiveness of Batterer’s Treatment for DV Offenders
2010
Washington Defender Association
Direct and Collateral Consequences: Ineffective Assistance and the Right to Competent Counsel
2010
Washington Defender Association
Trial Advocacy Program Coordinator and Small Group Leader
2010
Washington Defender Association
Pleas and Consequences, Post ANJ
2010
TeamChild
Reform through Advocacy: The Role of Juvenile Defenders
2010
Seattle University School of Law
Advocacy for Addressing Legal Financial Obligations
2009
Washington Defender Association
Building and Maintaining a Strong Attorney Client Relationship
2008
Washington Defender Association
Ethics: Focus on the Client
2007
Whatcom County Public Defender
Introduction to Indigent Defense
2006
Washington Defender Association
Intensive Trial Advocacy
2004
Washington Defender Association
Intensive Trial Advocacy
Publications
2014
Washington Criminal Defense Magazine
Juvenile Justice
2014
National Association of Public Defense
The Kids Are Alright: Getting Courts to Sentence Youth Fairly
2014
National Association of Public Defense
Legal Financial Obligations: Understanding the Impact and Developing an Advocacy Strategy
2014
National Association of Public Defense
It's Time to Start Treating Kids Like Kids, Regardless of What They Did
2013
Seattle Law School Journal For Social Justice
Legal Financial Obligations: Fulfilling the Promise of Gideon by Reducing the Burden
2011
Seattle Law School Journal for Social Justice
Intimately Related to the Criminal Process: Examining the Consequences of a Conviction after Padilla v. Kentucky and State v. Sandoval
2010
Washington Criminal Defense Magazine
Challenging Prior Sentences in Third Strike Cases
2010
Washington State Criminal Defense Magazine
Domestic Violence
2010
Washington Defender Association
A Public Defenders Guide to Legal Financial Obligations in Superior Court
2010
Washington Defender Association
Washington Defender Association Trial Advocacy Program Training Manual
2009
Washington Defender Association
Building and Maintaining a Strong Attorney Client Relationship
2009
Washington Defender Association
Flaws in the System: Eyewitness Testimony, Informants, Forensic Evidence and False Confessions
2008
Washington Defender Association
Defending a Domestic Violence Case
2007
Whatcom County Public Defenders Office
Whatcom County Investigators Manual
2006
Whatcom County Public Defender Office
Whatcom County Trial Advocacy Manual
2003
Whatcom County Public Defenders Office
Whatcom County Juvenile Court Trial Manual
Languages
English