A preliminary injunction issued late Wednesday halts key elements of Senate Bill 5974, following a ruling by Judge Christine Schaller that found provisions of the law likely unconstitutional.
The order specifically suspends implementation of Section 9, which would have empowered the Criminal Justice Training Commission to decertify and remove county sheriffs—some of whom hold office through direct election—for conduct deemed inappropriate under the law.
Under the provision, grounds for decertification could include nonobjective factors, such as personal associations or public commentary shared on social platforms.
The legal challenge was initially brought by a group of four sheriffs from eastern Washington: Spokane County’s John Nowels, Pend Oreille County’s Glenn Blakeslee, Stevens County’s Brad Manke, and Ferry County’s Ray Maycumber.
A companion case, heard alongside the main suit, was filed by Rick Kuss, a candidate for Kitsap County sheriff, along with the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs contended that vesting authority in a body appointed by the governor to dismiss locally elected sheriffs constitutes an unconstitutional incursion into local governance and executive overreach.
Judge Schaller concurred during oral arguments, indicating the plaintiffs stood a strong chance of prevailing. She underscored that subjecting sheriffs to removal over subjective online expressions threatens core First Amendment rights.
She further observed that the law establishes a new benchmark for sheriff accountability, distinct from how other law enforcement leaders are evaluated.
In addition to pausing the decertification mechanism, the injunction temporarily suspends proposed changes to qualifications for sheriff candidates. Under the law, future contenders would need to be at least 25 and demonstrate five straight years of law enforcement experience.
The ruling, while significant for sheriffs, does not invalidate all aspects of the legislation. Provisions governing appointed city police chiefs remain unaffected, as does a separate clause curbing the use of sworn police volunteers.
With the injunction now active, implementation of the decertification framework is on hold pending a full trial on the law’s constitutionality.
State officials have indicated plans to appeal the ruling.
Clallam County Sheriff Brian King voiced strong support for the decision, calling it a safeguard for voter sovereignty.
“Today reinforces the principle that elected sheriffs answer directly to the electorate—not to a board appointed in Olympia,” Sheriff King said.
He noted that recent voter-driven changes—including the recall of a Benton County sheriff and the electoral outcomes in Snohomish and Thurston counties—demonstrate the resilience of existing democratic tools.
“These events reflect accountability in action, not accountability in crisis,” he added.
King described the outcome as a favorable development for both Clallam County and his office, emphasizing that it strengthens the rights of voters. He argued that allowing for subjective administrative dismissals would diminish the ability of law enforcement to make independent judgments, a capacity he views as essential for establishing local priorities and serving community needs.