Anne Bremner

Bremner was born in McAlester, Oklahoma. Bremner attended Stanford University, where she studied medieval history, graduating in 1980 with honors.{{citation|url=http://www.staffordfrey.com/a_bremner.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101074321/http://www.staffordfrey.com/a_bremner.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-01-01 |publisher=Stafford Frey Cooper |title=Attorneys: Anne M. Bremner |access-date=2011-10-01 }} She describes her student self as "a liberal, an idealist, and a Democrat" who was opposed to capital punishment.{{citation|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/A-tough-case-to-the-very-end-1161391.php|periodical=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|title=A tough case to the very end|first=Susan|last=Paynter|date=2004-12-07|access-date=2011-10-01}} She went on to Seattle University School of Law, where she completed her J.D. degree in 1982.

From 1983 to 1988, Bremner was a deputy prosecuting attorney with the criminal division of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, specializing in sex crimes.

During these years she came into contact with a number of high-profile cases, such as the Wah Mee massacre trials. The experience, along with those later in her career, began to modulate her views on the death penalty, which she had always staunchly opposed.

In 1985, she was deputy prosecuting attorney in a case against a University of Washington police officer believed to be the first person to be charged under the state's new computer trespass law. A trial court convicted the officer of the charges, but the Washington Court of Appeals overturned his conviction.{{citation|periodical=The Spokesman-Review|date=1985-05-01|access-date=2011-10-01|title=Ex-policeman faces computer charge|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9cRYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EPADAAAAIBAJ&pg=7220,291252}}{{citation|url=http://174.123.24.242/leagle/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=198756147WnApp514_1495.xml&docbase=CSLWAR2-1986-2006|title=STATE v. OLSON|work=47 Wn. App. 514 (1987)|date=1987-04-29|access-date=2011-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404040911/http://174.123.24.242/leagle/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=198756147WnApp514_1495.xml&docbase=CSLWAR2-1986-2006|archive-date=2012-04-04|url-status=dead}}

Bremner worked as a lawyer at Stafford Frey Cooper in Seattle from 1988 to 2012.{{cite news

| author = Jennifer Sullivan and Mike Carter| title =High-profile Seattle defense lawyers quit firm to form own| newspaper =The Seattle Times| date = April 12, 2012| url =http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/high-profile-seattle-defense-lawyers-quit-firm-to-form-own/| access-date =April 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/98101-wa-anne-bremner-13738.html |title=Lawyer Anne Bremner Seattle, WA Attorney|website= Avvo.com|publisher=Avvo|access-date=April 23, 2015|quote= Shareholder at Stafford Frey Cooper 1988–present}} During her career in private practice, Bremner represented law enforcement and judges in various civil and criminal cases. In 1996, she successfully defended the Seattle Police Department's use of police dogs to find and bite suspects against an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenge claiming that it violated suspects' civil rights and constituted excessive force.{{citation|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S8VeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6DEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3171,2387397|title=Jury rejects suit challenging police dog policy|date=1996-12-25|access-date=2011-10-01|periodical=Lewiston Morning Tribune}}

In 2001, she represented the Bellevue Police Department during the inquest into the conduct of officer Mike Hetle during his second fatal shooting that year; the jury found that Metle had reason to fear death or serious bodily harm.{{citation|title=Inquest clears policeman in fatal shooting; Officer's use of gun vindicated for the second time this year|first=Margaret|last=Taus|date=2001-11-09|access-date=2011-10-01|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Inquest-clears-policeman-in-fatal-shooting-1071358.php|periodical=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}

In the 2002 case Vili Fualaau v. Highline School District and the Des Moines Police Department, filed by the family of Mary Kay Letourneau's student Vili Fualaau, Bremner successfully defended the police department against liability for damages.{{citation|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Schools-police-absolved-in-Fualaau-case-1087664.php|periodical=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=2002-05-20|access-date=2011-10-01|first=Sam|last=Skolnik|title=Schools, police absolved in Fualaau case}} She became acquainted with Letourneau during the course of the lawsuit; the two would develop a friendship.{{citation|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-08-03-teacher-released_x.htm|periodical=USA Today|date=2004-03-08|access-date=2011-10-01|title=Mary Kay Letourneau released from prison}}

Bremner appears on television as a legal analyst, explaining prominent cases to the general public. In 2004, she appeared on Court TV and other cable networks covering the trial of Scott Peterson for the murder of Laci Peterson. Similarly in 2005, she took an unpaid leave of absence from her job to offer television commentary on People v. Jackson, stating that the publicity had brought in millions of dollars of business for her firm.{{citation|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B11FD3A5B0C718CDDAD0894DD404482|periodical=The New York Times|date=2005-04-02|access-date=2011-10-02|title=To Some, Jackson Trial Is Another Shot at TV|first=John M.|last=Broder}} In 2009, she appeared variously on CNN with Nancy Grace to discuss the Casey Anthony case.{{citation|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ng/date/2009-03-23/segment/01|periodical=CNN|date=2009-03-23|access-date=2011-10-08|title=New Search in Natalee Holloway Disappearance|first=Nancy|last=Grace}}{{citation|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ng/date/2009-06-11/segment/01|periodical=CNN|date=2009-06-11|access-date=2011-10-08|title=Missing Ohio Mom Spotted in Wal-Mart|first=Nancy|last=Grace}}

In October 2008, Bremner took up the cause of Amanda Knox, a University of Washington student charged with the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy.{{citation|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Prominent-Seattle-lawyer-to-help-Knox-1287241.php|title=Prominent Seattle lawyer to help Knox|periodical=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=2008-10-03|access-date=2011-10-02|first=Levi|last=Pulkkinen}} She was contacted by family members of Knox's classmates, including Mike Heavey, a superior court judge with whom she was previously acquainted.{{citation|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/12/08/focus7.html?page=all|periodical=Puget Sound Business Journal|first=Heidi|last=Dietrich|date=2008-12-05|access-date=2011-10-01|title=Questions for Anne Bremner, trial lawyer, Stafford Frey Cooper}} The group subsequently held fundraisers to pay for Knox's defense, lobby lawmakers, and conduct public relations activities, turning media focus toward the conduct of the prosecution, especially Perugia chief prosecutor Giuliano Mignini.{{citation|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6736512/Amanda-Knox-Foxy-Knoxy-was-an-innocent-abroad-say-US-supporters.html|title=Amanda Knox: 'Foxy Knoxy' was an innocent abroad, say US supporters|first=Philip|last=Sherwell|first2=David|last2=Harrison|date=2009-12-05|access-date=2011-10-01|periodical=The Telegraph}} Bremner made various television appearances regarding the case, describing Knox as "naive" and comparing her to the title character in the French film Amélie.{{citation|periodical=MSNBC|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34206605|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103010633/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34206605/ns/today/|url-status=live|archive-date=2011-11-03|title=Lawyer: Alleged killer Knox 'naive, imprudent'|date=2009-11-30|access-date=2011-10-01}}

She represents the parents of Susan Powell, a homemaker who went missing in Utah in 2009, in their lawsuit for insurance money. The lawsuit ended in a settlement in March 2015.{{cite news| title =Settlement ends court battle for Susan Powell insurance money| newspaper =The Salt Lake Tribune| date =March 26, 2015| url =http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/03/26/3710847/settlement-ends-court-battle-for.html| archive-url =https://archive.today/20150423222812/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/03/26/3710847/settlement-ends-court-battle-for.html| url-status =dead| archive-date =April 23, 2015| access-date =April 22, 2015}}

In 2011, Bremner was hired by family of Rebecca Zahau Nalepa, a woman who committed suicide after being present in a house during an incident where her boyfriend's young son died.{{cite news| author =Elliot Spagat| title =Woman's death at mansion was suicide | quote =Zahau, 32, was discovered dead six hours after she retrieved a voice mail that said the condition of her boyfriend's 6-year-old son had suddenly worsened and that he was unlikely to survive, investigators said.| newspaper =Associated Press via Seattle Times| date = September 3, 2011| url =http://old.seattletimes.com/text/2016096147.html| access-date =April 23, 2015}}{{cite news| title =Rebecca Zahau suicide likely tied to boy's injuries, officials say| quote =Rebecca Zahau, the girlfriend of pharmaceutical executive Jonah Shacknai who committed suicide at his Coronado mansion, was distraught over injuries his son suffered in her care and that is apparently why she decided to hang herself, authorities said Friday.| newspaper =Los Angeles Times blog| date =September 2, 2011| url =http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/rebecca-zahaus-suicide-likely-triggered-by-boys-injuries-authorities-say.html| access-date =April 23, 2015}}{{citation|work=NBC San Diego|title=Attorney: Zahau Death Might Not Be Suicide|first=Tony|last=Shin|date=2011-09-22|access-date=2011-10-01|url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/New-Details-In-Mansion-Death-Revealed-130329173.html}} Bremner, representing Zahau's family, sued the deceased boy's parents, Jonah and Dina Shacknai, claiming that Zahau had been murdered, contrary to the conclusion of the police investigation which ruled Zahau's death a suicide with no foul play.{{cite news| author =Tony Perry| title =Woman killed herself after learning that boy would die| newspaper =Los Angeles Times| date = September 3, 2011| url =https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-sep-03-la-me-coronado-death-20110903-story.html| access-date =April 23, 2015}} Bremner went on many television shows and made statements such as, "this doesn't pass the smell test" and claimed that "This would be the first case in the history of the world that a woman killed herself like this ... It's ridiculous on the face of it"; however, officials said that the way Zahau killed herself is "not unprecedented and there is no evidence that there was foul play".{{cite news| title =Rebecca Zahau suicide likely tied to boy's injuries, officials say| quote =Although how she killed herself may seem unusual, it is not unprecedented and there is no evidence that there was foul play, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said at a Friday morning news conference.| newspaper =Los Angeles Times blog| date =September 2, 2011| url =http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/rebecca-zahaus-suicide-likely-triggered-by-boys-injuries-authorities-say.html| access-date =April 23, 2015}}{{citation|periodical=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-09-02/Coronado-mansion-death-ruled-suicide-family-objects/50233234/1|title=Coronado mansion death called suicide; family objects|first=William M.|last=Welch|first2=Donna Leinwand|last2=Leger|date=2011-09-02|access-date=2011-09-09}}

In 2013–2014, Bremner represented true crime author Ann Rule in a defamation suit against Seattle Weekly and lost.{{cite news| author =Levi Pulkkinen| title =Judge tosses Ann Rule defamation lawsuit| newspaper =Seattle Post-Intelligencer| date = February 26, 2014| url =http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Judge-tosses-Ann-Rule-defamation-lawsuit-5270728.php| access-date =April 22, 2015}} The state Supreme Court reversed a matter that reinstated Ann Rule's case.

In 2003, Bremner was one of the founding members of the Committee for a Two-Newspaper Town, along with Washington Supreme Court justice Phil Talmadge. The group was formed to pressure the Hearst Corporation and The Seattle Times Company to continue printing their respective newspapers, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The Seattle Times, under their joint operating agreement signed in 1982.{{citation|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2003/06/30/daily18.html|periodical=Puget Sound Business Journal|date=2003-06-30|access-date=2011-10-01|title=Citizens group formed to maintain P-I, Times}} The group specifically opposed an attempt by the Times to dissolve the JOA and permit Hearst to close the Post-Intelligencer in exchange for 32% of the Times' profits for 80 years.{{citation|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Group-will-seek-close-look-at-Seattle-papers-1210782.php|periodical=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|title=Group will seek close look at Seattle papers' finances|first=Dan|last=Richman|date=2006-08-02|access-date=2011-10-01}} However, in March 2009, the Post-Intelligencer printed its last paper edition and moved to an online-only format. In an e-mail about the event, Bremner stated: "What a terribly sad day this is. Only tomorrow will be worse."{{citation|url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/march162009/pi_online_3-16-09.php|date=2009-03-16|access-date=2011-10-01|title=Seattle P-I to Publish Last Edition Tuesday|first=Dan|last=Richman|first2=Andrea|last2=James|periodical=Salem News}} Bremner was a regular contributor to Women in Crime Ink, which the Wall Street Journal called "a blog worth reading."{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203771904574173874199242710|title=Blogs Worth Reading - WSJ|author=beckey bright|date=2 June 2009|work=WSJ}}

On June 3, 2010, Bremner had automobile difficulties and called 9-1-1. A county sheriff suspected she was intoxicated and arrested her.{{citation|periodical=The Seattle Times|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012537195_bremner05m.html|last=Green|first=Sara Jean|title=Lawyer Anne Bremner tries to block records about DUI arrest|date=2010-08-04|access-date=2011-10-01}} She pleaded guilty to DUI on September 1{{citation|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Report-Bremner-called-cop-a-Nazi-during-DUI-895610.php|periodical=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|title=Report: Bremner called cop a 'Nazi' during DUI arrest|first=Scott|last=Gutierrez|first2=Levi|last2=Pulkkinen|date=2010-09-02|access-date=2011-10-01}} and was sentenced to two days in jail.{{citation|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Bremner-I-represent-Seattle-police-you-can-t-884288.php|title=Bremner: 'I represent Seattle police, you can't arrest me'|date=2010-09-06|access-date=2011-10-01|periodical=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}

{{reflist|2}}

• {{IMDb name|2003274}}
• {{Official website|http://www.annebremner.com}}
• [https://lawtally.com/lawyers/anne-bremner/ Anne Bremner Lawyer Profile On LawTally]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bremner, Anne}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American women lawyers

Category:Lawyers from Seattle

Category:Seattle University School of Law alumni

Category:Stanford University alumni

Category:Washington (state) lawyers

Category:People from McAlester, Oklahoma

Category:21st-century American lawyers