Case Study: Saving Lives with Gun Surrender Orders
A Court of Appeals ruling can change how courts across Washington apply the law, and NJP’s strategic appeals on gun surrender orders show what that can mean for domestic violence survivors.
After 5 Years of Advocacy, Thurston County Expands Court Access
Since COVID, Thurston County Superior Court’s only option for important and urgent civil matters—like fee waivers or stopping illegal evictions—was a limited phone line open just 30 minutes a day. Starting in 2021, Olympia field office and Olympia Eviction Prevention Unit (EPU) staff flagged the issue, and began pushing for change, such as rule changes, proposed along with our partner Sound Legal Aid, in both 2025 and 2026. EPU’s on-the-ground experience working to prevent evictions was crucial to that advocacy.
NJP: Celebrating 30 Years
We interviewed Pat “Mac” McIntyre, NJP’s founding Executive Director to reflect on NJP’s first 30 years. NJP has provided free legal information and services in low-income communities, protecting housing, income, safety, and stability for millions.
NJP Clients Share the Case for Legal Aid with Senator Murray
On May 7, Senator Patty Murray sat down with NJP clients and their attorneys in Seattle — listening, firsthand, to what’s at stake as federal funding for legal aid faces another potential round of cuts.
Constitutional Confusion: Washington’s Weapons-Surrender Statute
It has a turbulent history. Read this article, co-authored by NJP Managing Attorney Karla Carlisle, to learn about the law requiring abusers to surrender their firearms when they have a protection order issued against them. Years of confusion over its constitutionality left the law unenforced in many counties—with deadly consequences for some survivors. Two 2025 […]
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U.S. Sen. Murray Joins NJP for Roundtable on Legal Aid Funding
NJP clients Anita Belcher and Alan Myers, Sen. Patty Murray, NJP Exec. Director Abby Daquiz. On May 7, Senator Patty Murray visited Northwest Justice Project's Seattle office to hear directly from legal aid attorneys and clients about what is at stake as federal funding for civil legal aid again faces the prospect of significant cuts. […]
Legal Aid in the Movies – Tow: “Give me back my damn car!”
Tow opened to a packed house in Seattle on March 20 at SIFF — and the audience was ready for it. The film tells the true story of Amanda Ogle, played by Rose Byrne, who fought back after her car — her only shelter — was towed while she was in a job interview. Without […]
Where you can find us
From every corner of Washington, Northwest Justice Project (NJP) is there to help individuals get the legal help they need. Our 20 offices across the state serve local communities, both urban and rural. But they are just one part of NJP’s support network. We reach people wherever we can. Here’s how we do it: On […]
Comment: Evictions Highlight Disparity in Rights of Homeowners vs. Renters
Someone who locks a homeowner out of their house and steals their property would be criminally charged. But when landlords illegally lock out tenants and dispose of their belongings, law enforcement typically dismisses it as a “civil dispute,” not a crime. That double standard makes a recent Island County jury verdict all the more remarkable. […]
Gun Surrender Victory for Survivors of Domestic Violence
When a domestic violence survivor Ilana Hernandez sought a protection order against her partner Michael in 2023, she detailed terrifying incidents where he displayed, used, and threatened her with firearms. A judge agreed she and her three children needed protection—but refused to order Michael to surrender his guns. This wasn't an isolated incident. That same […]