SEATTLE—King County Superior Court Judge Patrick Oishi on Thursday, August 27, dismissed a petition that sought to recall Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson after the two residents who filed the charges asked to withdraw it, saying they needed time to investigate “additional information” and hire a lawyer.
Judge Oishi granted the request without prejudice, leaving open the possibility that the effort could be refiled, and canceled a hearing scheduled for Monday that would have tested whether the allegations met Washington’s legal standard for a recall.
“This is highly irregular,” Oishi said.
He said Melinda Jacobson and Dale Osterud had missed a court-ordered noon Wednesday deadline to file legal briefs, while lawyers for Wilson met the deadline. Jacobson, appearing in person with Osterud, confirmed they wanted the petition dismissed.
“We found some additional information that needs to be investigated as per the charges,” Jacobson said.
She added that they had spoken with numerous Seattle attorneys and only the night before found one willing to represent them. That lawyer, she said, advised them to seek a dismissal without prejudice.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which by statute reviews recall charges and forwards them to the court, took no position. Deputy prosecutor Julie Cook said the office remains a “neutral party” and a “procedural conduit.” She said the office does not believe it has clear authority to withdraw the case on its own and that doing so could appear to advocate a side.
Wilson’s attorney, Dmitri Iglitzin, did not oppose dismissal. He described the filing as “an entirely frivolous recall petition” that sought to remove Wilson “for making what are clearly good faith, discretionary and reasonable decisions as to how to fulfill her duties as mayor.”
Iglitzin said the petition had already imposed costs on King County Elections, the prosecutor’s office, the court, the city and Wilson personally. He warned that if the same petitioners refiled a similar effort, the mayor might seek sanctions, referring to a 2015 Washington Supreme Court decision (Recall of Piper) in which a court sanctioned a petitioner who brought a frivolous recall. He said Wilson was not asking the judge to rule on the merits Thursday.
Oishi said Washington law and prior cases give petitioners a right to withdraw a recall. He said he would sign an order dismissing the petition without prejudice and canceling Monday’s sufficiency hearing. He made clear what he was not deciding: whether the charges were legally or factually sufficient, whether the petition was frivolous, or whether attorney fees or sanctions were warranted.
Seattle residents Jacobson and Osterud filed the charges on August 11 with King County Elections. They alleged Wilson was “derelict in her duties for public safety,” referencing crime and open-air drug activity in neighborhoods including North Aurora, Belltown and the Chinatown-International District; the deactivation of some city closed-circuit cameras; and her decision to push out Police Chief Shon Barnes after a shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival that killed three people.
Under state law, a judge must first determine that alleged acts amount to malfeasance, misfeasance or a violation of the oath of office before any signature drive can begin. Had the petition survived that review, supporters would have had 180 days to collect roughly 69,000 valid signatures — 25% of the votes cast in the 2025 mayor’s race — to force a special election. Seattle has not successfully recalled a mayor since 1931.
Wilson, who took office Jan. 1 after a narrow 2025 victory over incumbent Bruce Harrell, did not attend Thursday’s hearing.
Author: Mario Lotmore
