6703 S. 234th Street, Suite 300
Kent, Washington 98032

Toll Free: 1-866-691-7937

Washington Criminal Lawyer

New Attorneys at HIP:
Hanis Irvine Prothero has had a few changes. Ally Cruz joined the HIP firm in the immigration department. Vanessa Vanderbrug joined HIP in October. Vanessa practices personal injury and employment law. In March, Melissa Rodgers joined the firm to head the family law department. Meanwhile, HIP said good-bye to Sara Wahl, who opened her own practice in Collaborative Family Law and Jamie Perry, who left to become a Family Law Facilitator in King County Superior Court. Good luck to Sara and Jamie and welcome to Vanessa, Ally and Melissa.

Prothero re-appointed to represent Gary Ridgway
On February 18th, Gary Ridgway pled guilty to the aggravated murder of Rebecca Marrero. As part of the plea agreement reached in 2003, he received a 49th consecutive life sentence. Here are some links to media accounts of the case:

Seatte PI:
Ridgway pleads guilty in 49th slaying, sentenced to life

Seattle Times:
Green River killer Ridgway pleads guilty to 49th murder

BBC:
'Green River killer' Gary Ridgway in 49th murder charge

CHARGES DISMISSED! One of Mark's clients, was recently exonerated and all charges were dismissed prior to trial. The young man was falsely accused of indecent exposure and child molestation based on faulty eyewitness identification. Mark and his investigator, Larry Daly, were able to confirm the client's whereabouts and obtain statements from the alibi witnesses. Prosecutors dismissed the charges after review of materials provided by the defense team. See an article about the case at http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/news/90997714.html

Mark Prothero, partner with the Kent law firm of Hanis Irvine Prothero, has been appointed by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire to the Washington State Forensic Investigation Council (FIC). The Council is a 13-person board that provides oversight of the State's crime laboratories. Other members include the Chief of the Washington State Patrol, the prosecuting attorneys for Whatcom County and Kittitas County, the Walla Walla County Sheriff, the City of Connell Police Chief, the Kitsap County Coroner, and the Clark County Medical Examiner. Mark is the first criminal defense attorney to be appointed to the FIC.

Mark had an article published in the November 2009 issue of DEFENSE magazine, "A Call to Arms: The 2009 NAS report on forensic science provides new tools for the defense bar" discussing the impact of the NAS report on criminal cases. Click here to read the article http://www.wacdl.org/briefpdf/DEF0911-5.pdf (Part I) and http://www.wacdl.org/briefpdf/DEF0911-9.pdf (Part II)


In April of 2009, Mark had an article on forensic DNA and the Innocence Project published in the Kent Reporter. Click here to read the article, "Forensic DNA, the search for the truth, and innocence".

Mark recently had an article published in Washington Criminal Defense magazine about the Glenn Proctor case.

Click on graphic to download the article.

Wrongfully accused of murder, Federal Way man released

On January 15, 2009, Glenn Proctor of Federal Way was released from jail where he had been held for 11 months awaiting trial on a murder he did not commit. Prosecutor Don Raz dismissed the case against Glenn after defense attorneys Diane Zumwalt and Mark Prothero provided evidence to convince the prosecutor's office they had the wrong man. Zumwalt was appointed to represent Proctor in March and enlisted Prothero in mid-June. They retained a forensic media and technology specialist, Dr. Thomas Sandor, of Renton. Dr. Sandor was able to clarify and enhance surveillance video from the scene of the homicide. By utilizing "relative cranial measurements" Dr. Sandor was able to help establish that Glenn Proctor was not the murderer. For more information about this case, here are some links to the news stories:


Mark Prothero, Glenn Proctor, and Diane Zumwalt

Mark was quoted in an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:


In May of 2006, Prothero and Girard prevailed in the Washington Supreme Court in the case of State v. Hanson. The court's unanimous 9-0 ruling guarantees expert witnesses at public expense for indigent clients represented by privately-retained or pro bono counsel. The case was consolidated with another defendant, well-represented by Steve Witchley of Ellis, Holmes, and Witchley, PLLC, a Seattle criminal defense firm. Mr. Witchley presented the oral argument and did an excellent job.

Mark was featured in the Seattle Times Sports section on 2/13/07. Click here to see the article.

Mark wrote a guest editorial about capital punishment that was published in the King County Journal on September 20, 2006. Click here to view the editorial.

Mark wrote a guest editorial about capital punishment that was published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on October 10, 2006. Click here to view the editorial.

In June, Mark was named one of Washington State's criminal defense SUPERLAWYERS for the fifth consecutive year. For more information about this honor, see www.superlawyers.com.
The Green River Killer's Lawyer - Super Lawyer 2010 - Learn More

Hanis Irvine Prothero recently competed in a food drive to benefit the Kent Food Bank. Over two tons of food was donated to the food bank. Here's the link to an article in the Kent Reporter: www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/community/28068544.html

Mark had an article on false confessions published in the Kent Reporter recently. Here's the article.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPEAKER

For many years, Mark has been making presentations to various groups on different topics dealing with criminal justice. He has spoken to a wide variety of audiences, including students in high school, community college, university, and law school, bar associations and lawyers, prosecutors, court clerks, court reporters, judges, Rotary and Kiwanis groups, and fund-raisers for non-profit foundations.

Topics:

  • Behind-the-Scenes of the Defense of the Green River Killer
  • Capital Punishment
  • Forensic Science in the Criminal Justice System
  • Forensic DNA in the Criminal Justice System
  • Trial Etiquette and Ethics

   

STATE OF WASHINGTON v. GARY RIDGWAY
The Defense of the Green River Killer

The Green River murders involved at least 49 victims, young women who had been murdered or had disappeared from 1982 to 1984. My twenty years of experience, especially with death penalty cases and cases involving DNA, put me in the position of co-lead counsel
 

2006-05-31

One after another, the Green River killer admitted he took the lives of more than 70 young women. The hunt for a suspect galvanized the Seattle-Tacoma area for more than 25 years. Finally the killer had a face: Gary Ridgway. The new novel "Defending Gary" describes the search for justice through the eyes of Mark Prothero, Ridgway's defense attorney.

Click Here to find out more about Mark Prothero's book Defending Gary: Unraveling the Mind of the Green River Killer

Attorney's new book takes you to Ridgway's murder trial Gary Ridgway's attorney attempts to explain motives
The Seattle Times, 06/02/06

Green River killer's defense lawyer pens new book
Northwest Cable News, May 31, 2006

References:

    David Novak, Lake Forest Park Rotary Club - "It was one of the most interesting and attention-holding presentations we have had in quite some time. Our only regret was that there was not enough time."

    Shannon Henderson, Kentwood High School - "This talk, accompanied by a superb PowerPoint project, sparked in my students an excitement in the field of law...I highly recommend Mark Prothero and his presentation as a highly educational experience. He has the ability to positively impact and educate our youth."

    Ed Donnerstein, Dean, University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences - "The lecture provided a fascinating insider's perspective that most would never be able to obtain. In addition, many students, faculty, and community members in attendance that day have mentioned to me how impressed they were with the presentation."

If you or someone you know would be interested in having Mark speak to a group, please contact him regarding dates.

Mark and his wife Kelly are very proud of their two kids, Sean and Marley. Sean is a swim coach, college student, and part-time intern at Hanis Irvine Prothero. Swimming for the Rebels of UNLV, Marley was named to the 2010-2011 Mountain West All-Conference Team as well as the Mountain West Conference All-Academic Team for the 3rd consecutive year based on her performance at the conference championships. She placed 3rd in the 400 IM, 4th in the 200 Breast, and 11th in the 500 Free, all with her lifetime best times. She has also been selected a co-captain for the 2010-11 season.

Mark will again join his HIP law firm team as they participate in the 2011 Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research. Last year, HIP raised over $12,000 and Mark was the 3rd highest fundraiser for individuals in the Kent Relay for Life.

HELPFUL LINKS


OTHER RESOURCES


Contact Mark W. Prothero Today
Toll Free: 1-866-691-7937 (24 hrs)

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