Summary

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine today ordered an inquest into the shooting death of John T. Williams by a Seattle police officer on August 30, 2010.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg recommended the inquest after his office reviewed investigative materials from the Seattle Police Department.

Inquests are fact-finding hearings conducted before a six-member jury. They are routinely called to determine the causes and circumstances of any death involving a member of any law enforcement agency within King County while in the performance of his or her duties.

Inquests provide transparency into law enforcement actions so the public may have all the facts in a case established in a court of law. The ordering of an inquest should carry no other implication.

The order signed by the Executive requests King County District Court Presiding Judge Barbara Linde to assign a judge to conduct the inquest.

The ordering of inquests is a function vested in the county executive under the King County Code.

Copies of the Prosecutor's recommendation and the Executive's inquest order are attached.

Read the Executive Order on Conducting Inquests in King County at: www.kingcounty.gov/operations/policies/executive/publicaeo/phl711aeo