On July 26th, 2023, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent subpoenas to Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle, Bishop Joseph J. Tyson of Yakima, and Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane for documents pertaining to clergy sexual abuse. The Catholic dioceses objected to the subpoenas and refused to share any documents that were not already publicly available.

After CAP publicly announced the subpoenas and urged AG Ferguson to announce his investigation and open a hotline on February 13th, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) sent amended subpoenas on April 10th, and the Catholic dioceses again refused to comply.  

On May 9th, Attorney General Ferguson announced that he had officially opened an investigation into clergy sexual abuse, filing a petition in the King County Superior Court to compel the Archdiocese of Seattle to comply with his subpoenas.

Court Documents

5/9/24 - Misc. Civil Complaint/Petition

5/9/24 - Case Information Cover Sheet

5/9/24 - Order Setting Case Schedule

5/9/24 - Bays Declaration in Support of State

5/9/24 - Notice of Hearing

5/14/24 - Order Striking Case Schedule

5/14/24 - Notice of Hearing/Investigative Subpoena

5/14/24 - Notice of Hearing/Petition

5/24/24 - Order/Briefing Deadlines

7/1/24 - Archdiocese Objection

7/1/24 - Chancellor Benjamin Altenhofen Declaration

7/1/24 - William J. Crowley Declaration

7/1/24 - Theresa DeMonte Declaration

7/1/24 - Sara Elizabeth Jones Declaration

7/1/24 - Caitlin Moulding Declaration

7/1/24 - Keith A Talbot Declaration

7/3/24 - Note for Motion Docket

7/3/24 - Notice of Limited Appearance on Behalf of Amicus Curiae

7/3/24 - Amicus Curiae Brief of BishopAccountability.org

7/8/24 - Stipulation and Order re Amicus Curiae Brief of BishopAccountability.org

7/8/24 - State Reply in Support of Petition to Enforce Investigative Subpoena

7/10/24 - Archdiocese Response to BishopAccountability.org Brief

7/10/24 - Keith A. Talbot Declaration

7/12/24 - Motion Hearing Minutes

8/1/24 - State of Washington Appeal