Bill to clear tribal fishermen of convictions headed to governor

Thursday, March 6, 2014  

A bill to clear tribal fishermen who were convicted of exercising their fishing rights is headed to the desk of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D).

Dozens of tribal members were arrested, charged and convicted in the 1960s and 1970s. House Bill 2080 provides a process by which the convictions can be expunged, so long as certain conditions are met.

"It's the closest this branch of government can come to an apology," state Sen. Adam Kline (D) told the Associated Press.

The federal courts eventually ruled in favor of tribal fishing rights.

Get the Story:
'Fish Wars' bill approved, heads to Inslee (AP 3/5)

KUOW: A clean slate for tribal fishermen in Washington (1/16)
Bill in Washington clears tribal fishermen of convictions (1/14)