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Some Things About Washington State's Constitution That May Surprise You

photograph provided by Washington's Office of the Secretary of State
Page 1 of the 1889 Washington State Constitution

Most people do not spend a lot of time thinking about our state constitution.  But, perhaps they should. Recent Washington Supreme Court decisions, including one about charter schools, show how this 126-year-old document still affects our lives.

KPLU Law and Justice Reporter Paula Wissel talks with with University of Washington law professor Hugh Spitzer. He co-wrote what many consider the definitive book on the state constitution.

Paula is a former host, reporter and producer who retired from KNKX in 2021. She joined the station in 1989 as All Things Considered host and covered the Law and Justice beat for 15 years. Paula grew up in Idaho and, prior to KNKX, worked in public radio and television in Boise, San Francisco and upstate New York.