Court Grants Camera Access and Delays Hearing
A visiting Kitsap County judge has ruled in favor of The Real Olympic Herald regarding courtroom access and scheduling. On May 14, 2026, Judge Houser granted a request to allow a camera crew to record upcoming proceedings. The judge also approved a motion for a continuance, setting the hearing for May 28 at 1:30 PM.
Challenge to Gag Order Efforts
A local resident seeking to restrict this publication’s coverage has been pursuing legal action through the civil court system for several months. This individual is known for connections to Clallam County Judge Brent Basden and is formerly represented by the Wolfley Law Firm.
The requested relief includes an unconstitutional prior restraint that would prevent the publication of news. The motion seeks a gag order intended to shield local judicial figures from public scrutiny. It also seeks to suppress records regarding the petitioner's personal history, which includes twelve CPS investigations, a ban from volunteering at Sequim’s Helen Haller Elementary School, and incidents requiring police intervention at the local YMCA.
Tactics Regarding Filing Volume
The publication previously reported that the petitioner filed a 171-page "Supplemental Declaration" on May 14, 2026. The filing was intended to exhaust the publication's resources by requiring extensive review ahead of a deadline in the Washington State Court of Appeals concerning terminated court commissioner Brian Parker.
The timing was designed to prevent the publication from retaining its attorney, Rasham Nassar, for the hearing initially scheduled for May 14. By granting the continuance, the court has delayed these financial pressures.
Hearing Scheduled for May 28
The hearing regarding the gag order and publication restrictions will take place on May 28 at 1:30 PM. The publication previously defeated a $2,000-per-day penalty associated with the gag order in April.