Spokane Defends Resolution in Ninth Circuit Appeal

The city asks the court to overturn a ruling allowing Matthew Shea's bill of attainder lawsuit to proceed.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Terrorism

Spokane Defends Resolution in Ninth Circuit Appeal

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Should local governments be permitted to pass official resolutions criticizing individual citizens?

The city of Spokane appeared before the Ninth Circuit to argue that its resolution labeling former state Representative Matthew Shea a domestic terrorist is nonpunitive. The court is reviewing an appeal regarding a lower court ruling that allowed Shea's bill of attainder lawsuit to move forward.

Why it matters

The lawsuit challenges whether local government resolutions can be considered unconstitutional legislative punishment when they target specific individuals. The case tests the limits of city council speech and the legal definition of a bill of attainder in local politics.

The city of Spokane is currently defending a bill of attainder lawsuit filed by Matthew Shea, which involves 4 city council members named as defendants. The Ninth Circuit is determining if the litigation against the council members will proceed.

The players

Matthew Shea

He is a former state Representative for Washington who was identified as a domestic terrorist in a 2019 state House investigation.

Spokane City Council

The local governing body in Spokane that adopted a resolution denouncing the participation of local officials in events featuring Shea.

Nadine Woodward

She is the former Mayor of Spokane who was denounced by the city council for participating in an event alongside Matthew Shea.

The details

Matthew Shea sued the city after the Spokane City Council passed a resolution denouncing former Mayor Nadine Woodward for attending an event with him in 2023. The city maintains the resolution serves an expressive purpose rather than acting as a punitive measure against the former politician.

2019: The Washington state House of Representatives found that Matthew Shea engaged in domestic terrorism.
2021: Matthew Shea left public office.
2023: The Spokane City Council adopted a resolution denouncing the former mayor and Shea.
October 28, 2026: The Ninth Circuit heard legal arguments regarding the city's appeal.

Legal Context

This case centers on the Bill of Attainder Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits legislative acts that target individuals for punishment without a trial. The outcome of the appeal will clarify whether municipal resolutions can be legally challenged as unconstitutional punishment.

The litigation may influence how the Spokane City Council uses formal resolutions to address public figures or respond to controversial events in the future. Residents are seeing significant legal resources dedicated to clarifying the boundaries of local political speech and censure.

The takeaway

The case highlights the tension between a local government's right to express political disapproval and the legal protections against legislative overreach. Readers should monitor court updates to see if the city's resolution remains protected as nonpunitive speech.