Washington Supreme Court to take up police deadly force law

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Supreme Court says it will hear arguments this month over a new state law designed to improve police training in de-escalation tactics and make it easier to prosecute officers for negligent shootings.

Lawmakers approved the measure — Initiative 940 — in March, but simultaneously amended it with a compromise that had been agreed to by activists and police groups. A King County Superior Court Judge said that procedure was unconstitutional and ordered that the original I-940 be placed on the November ballot. The state Attorney General's Office appealed.

The Supreme Court will decide whether the lawmakers acted constitutionally, or whether I-940 — or I-940 and the compromise proposal — should go to the ballot. Arguments are set for June 28.