{"id":377101,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:16","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/washington-law\/washington-first-degree-murder-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-01-19T16:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T21:23:10","slug":"washington-first-degree-murder-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/washington-law\/washington-first-degree-murder-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Washington First-Degree Murder Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Washington First-Degree Murder Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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First-degree murder in Washington<\/span> is the premeditated<\/span>, intentional killing<\/span> of another person. It is the most serious crime under state law<\/span>, classified as a Class A felony<\/span> and punishable by up to life in prison. Washington<\/span> abolished the death penalty<\/span> in 2023, making life imprisonment<\/span> the maximum penalty<\/span> for this offense.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

First-degree murder is a heinous crime and carries severe sanctions. In this article, we\u2019ll explain how\u00a0Washington<\/span>\u00a0state defines first-degree murder, how it differs from a second-degree<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>murder<\/span> charge<\/span>, the possible penalties, and common defenses.<\/p>\n

How Washington<\/span> State Defines First Degree Murder<\/h2>\n

Washington<\/span>\u2019s first-degree murder statute<\/a> defines murder in the first degree<\/span> as killing where a person causes the death of another person<\/span>:<\/p>\n