FREE CLE Invitation – Kittitas County Bar Association

Understanding Washington’s
Sentencing Reform Act (SRA):
Practical Guidance for Defense Attorneys

Date & Time: Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Pacific

Approved for 1.0 Law & Legal Procedure CLE credit

Location: Online via Zoom
(login information to be provided to registrants before CLE)

Program Overview:

This CLE will provide a comprehensive introduction to Washington’s Sentencing Reform Act of 1981 (RCW 9.94A), focusing on practical tools attorneys can use in daily practice.

Topics Covered:

• Overview of the SRA and its purpose
• Calculating offender scores step-by-step
• What counts vs. what doesn’t (strikes, serious offenses, misdemeanors)
• Sentencing enhancements (firearm, weapon, and other statutory provisions)
• Community custody rules and alternatives (FTOW, DOSA, SSOSA, etc.)
• Navigating the sentencing grid system
• Practical exercises (time permitting)

Topics Not Covered:

• Critiques of the SRA
• Comparability analysis
• Same Criminal Conduct (SCC) nuances
• Plea agreement strategy
• Juvenile sentencing rules

Presenter:  Nickolas Ward – Ward Law, PLLC

• Solo felony contract Public Defender in Asotin County (also Garfield, Columbia, Whitman Counties)
• Nine years of experience as both prosecutor and defense attorney
• U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran

Nickolas Ward is a dedicated criminal defense attorney and Marine Corps veteran with extensive trial experience. After serving as both a prosecutor and a public defender, Nickolas now manages a felony defense practice spanning multiple counties. His unique blend of military discipline, prosecutorial insight, and defense advocacy offers attorneys practical guidance on navigating Washington’s complex sentencing framework.

The Skagit, Kittitas, and Whitman County Bar Associations will be offering CLEs together this year as part of a new, co-operative collaboration for the benefit of the members of all three bar associations.