Washington Attorney General Nick Brown vows to use office tools to defend state rights after national election

Attorney General Nick Brown told an audience at a Pierce County journalism conference that his office will use “all the tools of the attorney general’s office” to protect Washingtonians’ rights and respond to anticipated federal policy changes after the national election.

Brown, the former U.S. attorney for Western Washington and counsel to Gov. Jay Inslee, delivered the keynote remarks after being introduced by the event moderator. He framed his priorities around defending civil rights, preserving environmental protections and ensuring access to health care, saying the national vote left Washingtonians at potential risk from policy shifts in the federal government.

"My goal, my duty, my commitment to Washingtonians is to make sure that we are using all the tools of the attorney general's office to keep people safe, to defend their rights," Brown said. He added the office will pursue litigation when necessary but also intends to collaborate and problem-solve with partners at state and local levels.

Brown used his own career to illustrate the point, noting work under Gov. Inslee that led to a moratorium and, later, the legislative repeal of the death penalty in Washington. He also cited prior responses by state attorneys general to federal actions such as the first travel ban as examples of the kinds of challenges the office may confront.

Opening the event, the moderator thanked sponsors and noted press-safety statistics, saying "75 journalists were killed on the job worldwide last year," then introduced Brown. Brown linked that framing to the event's mission of supporting journalism and urged attendees to remain attentive to state and local governance because, he said, "the vast majority of things that we care about... are being made down in Olympia."

Brown recounted personal ties to public service — growing up in Pierce County in a military family, serving as an Army lawyer and later prosecuting and defending service members — and said that background shaped his approach. He urged public officials and residents alike to stay curious about opposing viewpoints and to seek common ground amid deep national divisions.

He closed by offering to take questions and said he would be available after the session for further conversation. The keynote followed opening remarks and acknowledgments by the event moderator.