For over a century, Foster Pepper PLLC has advised Washington local governments on the Federal and State constitutions and the laws affecting government organization and operation. Washington has a long tradition regarding open government. Washington is one of the first states to adopt the appearance of fairness doctrine for the conduct of government officials in public hearings. The State’s Open Public Meetings Act, Public Records Act, Public Disclosure Act (campaign finance) and state and local ethics laws carry forward that tradition. Foster Pepper, and its Public Disclosure Team, continue to represent and defend counties, cities and special purpose districts on these and other open government issues. Foster Pepper lawyers work with local governments in the drafting of policies and laws, training and educational programs, compliance matters and, when necessary, litigation and appeals.