Out of the Stone Age and into the 21st Century we go. On May 1, 2013, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill to change state law. In short, marriage will no longer be an absolute defense against allegations of some forms of rape and sexual assault in Washington State. The measure removes the spousal exemption from both rape in the third degree and from taking indecent liberties. Washington State had taken some remedial actions in 1983 by removing the marital exemption for first and second degree rape. Surprisingly, up until 1970, most states considered marriage to preclude any form of rape; in other words, marriage was an absolute affirmative defense to any rape allegation.
If you or a loved one is charged with a criminal offense in Washington State it is imperative that you seek the assistance of a qualified and reputable Washington criminal defense attorney. The Seattle criminal attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified and reputable Seattle criminal defense lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those arrested for crime all across Western Washington and the Greater Puget Sound region. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the criminal allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible in light of all the surrounding circumstances of the given case.