Staff Writer

Somewhere in Olympia, right now, four public defense organizations are trying to push through the biggest change to Washington's bail system in decades. They're doing it through a court rulemaking process most residents have never heard of. And they've specifically asked that there be no public hearing. That last part is worth repeating. They filed their proposal with the Washington Supreme Court and wrote, on page one: "A public hearing is not recommended." They don't want you in the room....

There's a detail in Washington's proposed bail overhaul that changes everything about how the criminal justice system works — and almost nobody is talking about it. Everyone's focused on the $200 misdemeanor bail cap. That's the headline. But buried in the same proposal is a provision that applies to the entire criminal docket, misdemeanors and felonies alike: a "strong presumption" that defendants can satisfy any bail amount by depositing 10% directly with the court clerk. Any bail amount....

Pop quiz. Can the same institution hold your money, decide your case, and keep what you owe if you lose? If you said "no, that sounds like a conflict of interest," congratulations — you have better instincts than the people drafting Washington's new bail rules . Here's what's being proposed. The Washington Supreme Court is considering a rule that creates a "strong presumption" letting defendants post 10% of their bail directly wit h the court clerk. Not just for small cases. For everything....