OLYMPIA — A battle between Pacific County Commissioner Lisa Olsen and a group seeking to recall her from office is next heading for the state’s highest court.

The recall, which was approved in the Pacific County Superior Court on April 4 in a victory for the Recall Rangers, is now being appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court.

Olsen’s legal team, headed by attorneys Mark C. Lamb and Isaac C. Prevost of Carney Badley Spellman PS, filed a motion to reconsider the court’s finding on April 8, arguing that the allegations of the recall regarding Open Public Meeting Act violations are false.

The recall group’s attorney, Jackson W. Maynard Jr., swiftly filed a counter motion stating that Olsen had no course of action to challenge the recall in the county’s superior court following Conflict Judge Marilyn K. Haan’s ruling on April 4 that the recall could proceed.

Olsen’s motion was short-lived and not even considered.

According to court documents, Lamb filed a Notice of Direct Appeal to the Washington Supreme Court on April 22, seeking a review of Haan’s ruling. Court documents show the Pacific County Clerk’s Office immediately sent off the challenge to the state’s top court.

The motion outlines the meeting in questions held on June 11, 2024, June 25, 2024, Oct. 8, 2024, Oct. 22, 2024, and Oct. 31, 2024, and states those meetings either had legal counsel present or involved multiple reasons for executive sessions — and when legal counsel was not present, litigation topics were not discussed.

It is unclear what timeframe the Supreme Court’s review will fall under. Under Washington state law, the process is supposed to be expedited because it involves a sitting elected official.

The recall group has steadily grown and reports a volunteer roster of approximately 500 residents, with Clifford M. Pickens serving as president and Amber Jacobs as treasurer.

According to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, the group raised $4,332 as of April 24, including $500 donations from Pacific County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Cory Nacnac and Kevin Acdal.

Nacnac’s contribution states he works at “JSO as a Deputy Sheriff,” and Acdal’s states he works at “Raymond, WA as Retired.” Public records have confirmed that the addresses listed with the contributions are their home residences.

On April 22, Pacific County Prosecutor Michael Rothman informed Olsen that under state law, she has the right to use public funds for her legal defense costs.