Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced the appointment of outside national law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner as Special Assistant Attorneys General to defend Initiative 638 in court on November 12, 2026.
The official announcement from the Washington State Office of the Attorney General affirmed that outside counsel will manage all trial proceedings and appellate filings connected to the ballot measure.
Equal Rights Amendment and Public Education Guarantees The complaint centers on state constitutional protections that extend beyond federal guarantees.
However, administrators face equal exposure under the Washington State Legislature Sexual Equality Mandate for Public Schools , which prohibits unequal treatment in athletic opportunities.
Legal advisors counseling Puget Sound districts emphasize that local school boards possess no independent authority to suspend certified state initiatives without judicial intervention.
Attorney General Nick Brown appointed Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner as Special Assistant Attorneys General to defend voter-approved Initiative 638 against constitutional challenges in King County Superior Court.