Practice areas: Appellate; view more
Licensed in Washington since: 1978
Education: University of California Berkeley School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 1999 - 2026 Call today:
206-607-4121
Carney Badley Spellman, P.S.
701 Fifth AvenueSuite 3600
Seattle, WA 98104 Visit website
A vehement advocate for his clients, James E. Lobsenz leaves no holds barred in his efforts to right the wrongs of the judicial system through his appellate practice, providing clients with the top-quality legal representation they deserve that works toward reversing lower court decisions. From the law office of Carney Badley Spellman, P.S., in Seattle, Washington, he is also well-versed in handling cases that relate to constitutional matters and criminal defense.
Mr. Lobsenz completed his undergraduate studies in 1974, graduating with his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Stanford University. He went on to earn his Master of Arts degree from his alma mater a year later, and later enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. During his time in law school, he strengthened his legal acumen and talents through his active involvement in myriad on-campus activities. He received his Juris Doctor in 1978, and in the same year, he obtained his license to practice law in Washington.
A consummate professional through and through, Mr. Lobsenz is a tenacious litigator and maintains an unwavering work ethic that does not stop in achieving his clients’ goals, no matter the complexity of obstacles that block his path to doing so. For his many contributions, he received the William O. Douglas Award from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as the Community Leadership Award from the QLaw Association for his work in opposing the discrimination of individuals in the United States Defense Forces based on sexual orientation.
Within his legal community, Mr. Lobsenz holds close affiliations with the Washington State Bar Association, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, the Northwest Women’s Law Center and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the United States Court of Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Practice areas
AppellateFocus areas
Appeals
- 100% Appellate
First Admitted: 1978, Washington
Professional Webpage: http://www.carneylaw.com/team/james-e-lobsenz/
Bar / Professional Activity
- State of Washington
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, former board member
- Stanford Club of Western Washington, former board member
- Society of Counsel for the Representation of Accused Persons, board of directors
- Northwest Women’s Law Center
- American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, previously served on legal committee for thirty-seven years; former board member
- Army Court of Criminal Appeals
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
- U.S. Court of Claims
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Levison v. Washington Horse Racing Comm’n, 48 Wn. App. 822 (1987)
- Watkins v. United States Army, 875 F. 2d 699 (9th Cir. 1989) (en banc), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 957 (1990)
- Thao v. Control Data Corporation, 57 Wn. App. 802 (1990)
- In re Blauvelt, 115 Wn.2d 735, 801 P.2d 235 (1990)
- Seattle v. Long, 198 Wn.2d 136, 492 P.3d 94 (2021)
- Employco Personnel Services v. Seattle, 117 Wn.2d 606 (1991)
- Ski Acres, Inc. v. Kittitas County, 118 Wn.2d 852 (1992)
- Washington State Physicians Exchange v. Fisons, 122 Wn.2d 299 (1993)
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community v. Siland County, 87 Wn. App. 552 (1997)
- King v. Olympic Pipeline Co., 104 Wn. App. 338 (2000)
- State v. Stein, 144 Wn.2d 236 (2001)
- M.L. v. Federal Way School District, 394 F. 3d 634 (9th Cir.) cert. denied 345 U.S. 1128 (2005)
- Watada v. Head, 530 F. Supp. 2d 1136 (W.D.Wash. 2007)
- Witt v. Department of the Air Force, 527 F.3d 806 (9th Cir. 2008)
- State v. Sutherby, 165 Wn.2d 870 (2009)
- Yates v. Fithian, 2010 WL 3788272 (W.D. Wash. 2010)
- Tatham v. Rogers, 170 Wn. App. 76 (2012)
- State v. Lau, 174 Wn. App. 857, 300 P.3d 838 (2013)
- Fisher Broadcasting – Seattle TV v. City of Seattle, 180 Wn.2d 515, 326 P.3d 688 (2014) (counsel for amicus curiae)
- In re Restraint of Bufalini, 4 Wn. App.2d 392, 423 P.3d 262 (2018)
Educational Background
- M.A., Political Science, Stanford University, 1975
- B.A., Political Science, Stanford University, 1974
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- law review article, "The Residential Tenant's Right to Freedom of Political Expression," (co-author) 10 Univ. Puget Sound Law Review 1 (1987)
- “Raising and Litigating Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims,” Washington Criminal Defense, Vol. 16, No. 3 (August 2002)
- law review article, "A Constitutional Right to an Appeal: Guarding Against Unacceptable Risks of Erroneous Conviction," 8 Univ. Puget Sound Law Review 375 (l985)
- law review article, "Unbridled Prosecutorial Discretion and Standardless Death Penalty Policies: The Unconstitutionality of the Washington Capital Punishment Statutory Scheme," 7 Univ. Puget Sound Law Review 299 (l984)
- law review article, "'Dependent Indian Communities': A Search for a Twentieth Century Definition," 24 Arizona Law Review 1 (l982)
- law review article, "Bakke, Lochner, and Law School: The Nobility Clause Versus a Republican Form of Medicine," 32 Maine Law Review 1 (l980)
- law review article, "Prosecutorial Ethics: Managing the Uncooperative Victim-Witness," 15 Criminal Law Bulletin 301 (l979)
Honors
- Awarded in recognition of lifetime dedication and courage in the practice of criminal defense., William O. Douglas Award, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2009
- Best Lawyers since 2025
- One of King County’s “Top Lawyers”, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and Seattle Business Magazine, 2010 – 2018
- Top Lawyer by Seattle Magazine
- 2010 Community Leadership Award from Washington’s GLBT Bar Association
- Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
- For work in opposition to the death penalty, Abolitionist Day Award, Washington Coalition Against the Death Penalty, 1995
- for work opposing discrimination against gays and lesbians serving in the armed forces, Civil Libertarian Award, American Civil Liberties Union, 1991
- for work organizing pro bono representation of refugees with legal problems, Human Rights Day Award, United Nations Association, 1985
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 1999 - 2026
