Suit over defender appointments continues

A Seattle attorney suing Mason County District Court and Judge George Steele for appointing him to defend a local man charged with DUI wants the suit to proceed even though he’s been removed as the man’s counsel.

Jonathan Lewis, who has a legal practice in Seattle, filed a writ of mandamus in Mason County Superior Court on Feb. 27.

The writ is used when government officials have allegedly taken a legally prohibited action.

Lewis says Steele improperly appointed him to defend Martin Andres Alonzo, who is being charged with DUI for the third time and whose primary language is Kanjobal.

The appoi...