As fines grow, ranchers ask court to settle jury trial fight

Ephrata, Washington; April 14, 2026: Yesterday, a multigenerational ranching family facing millions in state-imposed compliance costs and a $267,540 civil penalty asked a court to decide their case — before an expensive administrative hearing begins. Wade and Teresa King, whose family has ranched in Grant and Douglas counties since the 1950s, filed a motion for summary judgment asking the court to affirm their constitutional right to a jury trial and hold that Washington cannot force them to litigate before an administrative tribunal.

“Every month this drags on, the Kings rack up legal costs defending themselves in a proceeding that never should be heard in an administrative tribunal in the first place,” said Oliver J. Dunford, Senior Attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation. “Washington’s constitution guarantees the right to a jury trial. That guarantee means nothing if the state can simply route enforcement through agencies that answer to no one but the governor.”

The Washington State Department of Ecology issued the Kings administrative orders beginning in February 2023, imposing a $267,540 civil penalty based on the claim that the Kings disturbed regulated wetlands. The Kings dispute the “wetlands” allegation and argue that the Department has no authority to regulate the property sites at issue.

With the Department’s inspection of their private property scheduled for June and the full administrative hearing set to begin in September, the Kings are asking the court to resolve the constitutional question now. Arguments on the motion are expected May 21.

A ruling for the Kings would affirm that Washington must pursue enforcement in a real court — before a jury — rather than before governor-appointed administrators.

Pacific Legal Foundation represents the Kings free of charge. The case is King Ranch v. Washington State Department of Ecology.