Students in the state of Washington who have been accused of committing an act of sexual misconduct—whether sexual assault or harassment—will find that Title IX will work against their rights and interests. Despite being made to ensure equal access to higher education for Americans, regardless of their gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, in practice, Title IX pressures Washington colleges and universities into quickly and rigorously prosecuting claims of sexual misconduct on their campuses. If they do not, these schools could lose the federal funding tied to Title IX.
As a result, you could feel as if your school is trying to find you in violation of Title IX, and do it as quickly as possible. Raising an appeal of an adverse outcome in your Title IX case can be essential.
You Have a Right to Appeal a Title IX Violation
After being found in violation of Title IX, you can challenge the outcome, the penalty, or both in an appeal. Using this right is critical, especially in light of the severity of many of the penalties that you can face and the fact that many hearing processes that schools in Washington use are not well-suited for such serious allegations as sexual misconduct.
When You Can Appeal a Title IX Violation in Washington
If you do choose to appeal a Title IX violation, your appeal will need to satisfy one of the following four reasons for appealing. If you do not, your appeal will be refused at the outset.
- New evidence has appeared. Sometimes, new evidence comes to light after your case has been heard and decided. If this new evidence could not have been discovered earlier and could impact your case, it can form the ground for an appeal.
- Procedural mistakes impacted your case. Washington colleges and universities write their own rules on how to hear and determine Title IX allegations. However, they sometimes fail to follow them, and this failure can often impact the outcome of a case. If this happens to you, it can be the basis for a later appeal.
- Due process was not followed. Title IX allegations are serious enough that you have a due process right to defend yourself and be heard. The speed with which colleges rush to a conclusion, though, can prevent this from happening. If this is the case, you can use it as the ground for an appeal.
- The penalty is too high. If you only want to appeal the sanction you have received, you can make an appeal on the argument that the severity of the sanction far outpaces the severity of the underlying Title IX violation.
Washington Title IX Appeal Advisor Joseph D. Lento
Joseph D. Lento is an attorney who helps student discipline defendants, including those who have been accused of violating Title IX's provisions against sexual misconduct on campuses in Washington state. If you have been found in violation of Title IX and want to appeal the finding, you need his advice on how to proceed. Contact him online or by phone at 888-535-3686 for help in appealing your case.
- Antioch University Seattle
- Argosy University Seattle
- Bates Technical College
- Bellevue College
- Bellingham Technical College
- Big Bend Community College
- Cascadia Community College
- Central Washington University
- Centralia College
- City University of Seattle
- Clark College
- Clover Park Technical College
- Columbia Basin College
- Cornish College of the Arts
- DeVry University Washington
- DigiPen Institute of Technology
- Eastern Washington University
- Edmonds Community College
- Everest College Bremerton
- Everest College Everett
- Everest College Tacoma
- Everest College Vancouver
- Everett Community College
- Faith Evangelical College & Seminary
- Gonzaga University
- Grays Harbor College
- Green River Community College
- Heritage University
- Highline Community College
- International Academy of Design and Technology Seattle
- ITT Technical Institute Everett
- ITT Technical Institute Seattle
- ITT Technical Institute Spokane Valley
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology
- Lower Columbia College
- Northwest Aviation College
- Northwest College of Art
- Northwest Indian College
- Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building
- Northwest University
- Olympic College
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Peninsula College
- Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom
- Pierce College at Puyallup
- Renton Technical College
- Saint Martin's University
- Seattle Community College Central Campus
- Seattle Community College North Campus
- Seattle Community College South Campus
- Seattle Pacific University
- Seattle University
- Shoreline Community College
- Skagit Valley College
- South Puget Sound Community College
- Spokane Community College
- Spokane Falls Community College
- Tacoma Community College
- The Art Institute of Seattle
- The Evergreen State College
- Trinity Lutheran College
- University of Phoenix Western Washington Campus
- University of Puget Sound
- University of Washington Bothell Campus
- University of Washington Seattle Campus
- University of Washington Tacoma Campus
- Walla Walla Community College
- Walla Walla University
- Washington State University
- Wenatchee Valley College
- Western Washington University
- Whatcom Community College
- Whitman College
- Whitworth University
- Yakima Valley Community College
A Title IX finding of responsibility can change an accused student's life if not properly addressed and appealed, and Joseph D. Lento has a decade of experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX advisor and educational consultant to students facing disciplinary cases in Washington and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
