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May 2004FYI: For Your Information2004 Board of Governors Election, and Candidates' Biographical Statements On April 15, ballots were mailed to all active WSBA members eligible to vote for the 4th or 7th-Central District governor. Returned ballots must be postmarked by May 15 in order to be counted. Board of Governors nomination forms for the 2nd, 4th, 7th-Central, and 9th Congressional Districts have been received from Eron M. Berg (2nd District), unopposed; Terry P. Abeyta, Elizabeth F. Baker, Stanley A. Bastian, George Fearing, and Gerald J. Moberg (4th District); Lonnie Davis and Thomas W. Hayton (7th-Central District); and James E. Baker (9th District), unopposed. The governors-elect and candidates have provided the following biographical statements:
Eron M. Berg, governor-elect/2nd District, states: I am running for this position to advocate for our profession and to fight for improvements to Washington's legal system. We have faced more and more challenges, some including issues with public debates in which the very honor of our profession is at stake. My experience in public office, including as a mayor, will allow me to better face these challenges. I will focus on the needs of the attorneys I represent, as well as our shared goal of a stronger, better funded, professional system of justice. I would be honored to represent you, and I ask for your vote.
Terry P. Abeyta, candidate/4th District, states: I was born and reared in Yakima. I graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Whitman College in 1973. I graduated in the top 15 percent of my class from the University of Washington School of Law in 1976. I practiced law for two years in Kirkland prior to returning to Yakima in 1978. I had a general practice before limiting my practice to personal injury. I am a past president of the Yakima County Bar Association and have held several officer positions for the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. I have contributed to several WSBA and WSTLA deskbooks. Elizabeth F. Baker, candidate/4th District, states: I was raised on a farm in Winlock, Washington. I am 36 years old and the mother of three children. I attended Pacific Lutheran University and then Gonzaga University, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts. I graduated from the (then known) University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1993. I have worked for the courts, large firms, and sole practitioners on both sides of the mountains in Washington. I have learned invaluable lessons from the bar and my clients, and hope to bring those experiences to this position for the benefit of this congressional district. Stanley A. Bastian, candidate/4th District, states: My 20-year legal career includes a variety of different jobs, and this will provide a unique perspective for service on the Board. I have practiced law in both western and eastern Washington, and my career has included both government service and private practice. I have worked as a law clerk for the state court of appeals, a public defender for the City of Renton, and a prosecutor for the City of Seattle. Most of my career has been as a partner at Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, and my practice is now focused on civil litigation. George Fearing, candidate/4th District, states: I am a 1982 graduate of the University of Washington School of Law. The focus of my practice is civil litigation. I have handled, for institutions, municipalities, and individuals, a variety of civil cases, including civil rights, employment, real estate, personal injury, medical malpractice, and business suits. I previously served on the WSBA Disciplinary Board. From sitting on this board, I have mixed emotions about how the bar association treats eastern Washington. I wish to advocate, as a governor, the interests of eastern and central Washington. Advocating those interests includes presenting the needs and desires of small and midsize firms. Gerald (Jerry) J. Moberg, candidate/4th District, states: I attended and received my J.D. from Gonzaga in 1973. From 1973 through 1988 I practiced with a small firm and a midsize firm, handling litigation which included civil and criminal cases. My caseload included the representation of both plaintiffs and defendants. From 1989 through 1992, I served as a Grant County Superior Court judge. In 1992, I joined the trial department of a large firm in Spokane, and in 1997 I started my own practice. Since 2000, I have primarily represented cities, counties and school districts in litigation claims. I understand the issues affecting sole practitioners, midsize to large firms, plaintiff attorneys, defense attorneys, and municipal lawyers.
Lonnie Davis, candidate/7th-Central District, states: I work for the Disabilities Law Project providing representation on civil rights issues. I am a technical advisor to the Washington Supreme Court's Minority and Justice Commission, and an associate member of the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. I served on the WSBA Civil Rights, Access to Justice Technology Bill of Rights, Conference Planning, and Impediments Committees. Previous community activities include membership on the Board of Directors of the Seattle Community Services Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, United Cerebral Palsy of King County, VSAW (an organization of artists with disabilities), and consultant to the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. Thomas W. Hayton, candidate/7th-Central District, states: I have practiced for 30 years in public and private civil litigation, and currently am a shareholder in Cutler Nylander & Hayton, a small firm which concentrates on trade practice and intellectual property. I have met some success in these enterprises, and have concluded that civility and humor are necessary ingredients. My involvement in formal WSBA business is three (eye-opening) years on the Disciplinary Board. I believe that the things I have found useful in the practice of law should also be helpful in Board business. I confess to impatience with meetings, but hope that someone interested in their efficiency would help.
James E. Baker, governor-elect/9th District, states: I have been active in the WSBA since early 1980, when I served on the Board of Trustees of the Young Lawyers Division. I have served on numerous boards and committees of the WSBA. I am a 1979 graduate of Gonzaga Law School. Since 1986, I have represented injured persons at my current law firm (Miracle, Pruzan, Pruzan & Baker). I have lived in Burien for more than 10 years. My other bar memberships include the King County Bar Association, the South King County Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association (W.D. Wash.). President-elect Ron Ward Participates in ABA Bar Leadership Institute Joining about 300 other emerging leaders of lawyer organizations from across the country at the American Bar Association's Bar Leadership Institute (BLI) on March 11-13 was WSBA President-elect Ronald R. Ward (center) of Seattle. Ward joined ABA President Dennis W. Archer (left) of Detroit, Michigan, and ABA President-Elect Robert J. Grey Jr. (right) of Richmond, Virginia, in sessions on bar governance, finance, communications, and planning. The BLI is sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services and the ABA Division for Bar Services as part of the association's long-standing goal of fostering partnerships with state and local bars and related organizations. Cooperating ABA staff entities included the Division for Media Relations and Communication Services. Senior Attorneys Discussion Group Join the Senior Attorneys Discussion Group for stimulating, social, sophisticated sojourns and cookies as our members share travel adventures on Thursday, June 17, and Thursday, July 15, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., at the WSBA office at 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle. Parking is available on the street nearby ($2 for two hours) or under the building. For more information, please contact Jenny Favell, Ph.D., in the Lawyers Assistance Program, at 206-727-8267. A meeting on Thursday, May 20, will feature a nutritionist and a senior fitness expert from the Swedish Medical Center Cardiac Rehabilitation and Care Program. Low carbs? High protein? No fat? High HDLs? Ratios? Desired blood pressures? For all levels. Come check it out.
The Board of Governors will refer any resolutions addressing issues within the purposes of the WSBA to the WSBA Resolutions Committee. Those purposes are set forth in Article I of the WSBA Bylaws and General Rule 12 of the Washington Court Rules. Not more than 11 nor fewer than seven days before the annual meeting, the Resolutions Committee will hold a public hearing at the WSBA office (2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle) to consider the views of proponents and opponents of resolutions. Proponents and opponents may attend the hearing in person or present their views in written form for consideration by the committee. Proposed resolutions will be published in the August 2004 issue of Bar News, along with the date of the Resolutions Committee meeting and a list of committee members. For further information, contact WSBA General Counsel Robert D. Welden at bobw@wsba.org or 206-727-8232.
The 2004 WSBA Bar Leaders Conference and Access to Justice (ATJ) Conference will be held at the Red Lion Hotel Yakima Center June 11-13, 2004. For Bar Leaders registration information, contact Desiree Ogden at 206-733-5931 or desireeo@wsba.org; for ATJ information, contact Sharlene Steele at 206-727-8262 or sharlene@wsba.org.
In March, the Family Law Section made a grant to the Legal Aid for Washington Fund (LAW Fund) in the amount of $3,000. The grant is earmarked for the Volunteer Lawyer Programs, to support LAW Fund in providing important and much-needed pro bono work. "During this challenging time for the legal profession, the Family Law Section wanted to make a clear statement in support of the hard work contributed by the many attorneys around the state who donate their time and their talents to serve those in need," said Family Law Section Chair J. Mark Weiss. "This contribution is a salute to those volunteer lawyers." As part of the contribution, the Family Law Section has challenged the other 22 sections of the WSBA to make similar grants to LAW Fund to support Volunteer Lawyer Programs. For more information, visit www.wsba.org/media/releases/2004/lawfunddon04.htm.
The Board approved the formation of this new section and its proposed bylaws. The section's goals are to support members engaged in the armed forces and military law. Following two years of inactivity and a six-month notice period to section members, this section was dissolved without objection, according to the WSBA Bylaws. Residual funds will be devoted to services that support small and solo practitioners as determined by the WSBA Budget and Audit Committee. MCLE Certification for Group 3 (2001-2003) Past Due MCLE Reporting Group 3 members should have completed all the credits for the 2001-2003 reporting period by December 31, 2003, and returned their C2 forms by March 1, 2004. Members in Group 3 include active members who were admitted to the WSBA from 1984 to 1990 or in 1993, 1996, or 1999. (Members admitted in 2002 are also in Group 3 but are not due to report until 2006.) The credit requirements for the period are shown below. At least 45 total credits of WSBA-approved CLE activities, which must include If you were unable to complete both of the above, please contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA, or questions@wsba.org, to discuss options for becoming compliant with MCLE requirements.
APR 11 Regulation 103 was amended by the Washington State Supreme Court on March 8, 2004, to authorize up to six CLE general credits per reporting period for judging moot court competitions at ABA-approved law schools, provided that there is an educational component in addition to the judging. In addition, Regulation 104(d)7, which disallowed moot court judging, was deleted by the Court. Credit will be given for moot court judging that takes place on or after the date the court amended these regulations, provided the content meets the education requirements of the new regulation. No retroactive credit will be given. Members must get appropriate certification from the law school for participation in moot court in order to get credit. The education component that must be satisfied in the moot court judging needs to be structured into the moot court activity prior to the actual judging. It must consist of establishing a "feedback process" by which the member, as the moot court "judge," gives specific performance feedback to each student participant. The law school can do this by reviewing a written outline for points to be covered by the "judge," by showing a video with this content, or by other appropriate method. Approval of moot court judging for credit will be dependent on a clear exposition in the Form 1 submitted by the law school of the "feedback process" education component and its relationship to the "judging" in the competition to follow. The education component must also be consistent with APR 11 Regulation 104.
The WSBA Professionalism Committee has created a way for lawyers and judges to recognize their colleagues who have conducted themselves in a professional manner consistent with the Creed of Professionalism. Through the "Random Acts of Professionalism" Program, lawyers and judges may nominate their colleagues to receive the award. Nominating a lawyer or judge for the award is very easy simply send his or her name, along with a brief description of why you are nominating the person, to Judy Berrett, staff liaison to the Professionalism Committee, at judithb@wsba.org, or fax to 206-727-8319. That's all there is to it! The nominated person will receive a letter, a certificate, and a copy of the WSBA Creed of Professionalism. The WSBA's Lawyer-to-Lawyer Program matches newer admittees with experienced lawyers. The program is not a structured mentoring program and does not supplant any similar programs of local or specialty bars. We connect lawyers with similar practices in the same geographic area for mutual information-sharing and goodwill. We need experienced attorneys to serve as informal mentors, especially in King County. Help new lawyers get a head start on learning those lawyering skills not found in any textbook. Interested members may contact Pete Roberts (206-727-8237; peter@wsba.org) in the Law Office Management Assistance Program. Program guidelines and sign-up forms are available at www.wsba.org/lawyers/services/lawyertolawyer.htm.
The average coupon equivalent yield from the first auction of 26-week treasury bills in April 2004 was 1.05 percent. The maximum allowable interest rate for May is therefore 12 percent. Compilations of the average coupon equivalent yields from past auctions of 26-week treasury bills and past maximum interest rates for June 1988-June 1999 appear on page 53 of the June 1999 Bar News. Information from January 1987 to date is on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/usury.htm. Upcoming Board of Governors Meetings May 14-15 Ocean Shores
The WSBA Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP) office maintains a computer for members to review software tools designed to maximize office efficiency. LOMAP staff are available to provide materials, answer questions, and recommend options. To make an appointment, contact Pete Roberts at 206-727-8237 or peter@wsba.org. Provide a valuable service to your clients by offering them consumer-information pamphlets! Published by the WSBA as a public service, these pamphlets educate consumers about their legal rights and responsibilities, answer frequently asked questions, and explain basic aspects of Washington law. The information is general, and not intended as legal advice or as a substitute for a lawyer's services. For a complete list of pamphlets and pricing information, contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA, or go to www.wsba.org/consumer-information. Note: A special discounted rate is available for qualified nonprofit organizations contact the WSBA Service Center for details. The WSBA uses e-mail to communicate with members quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively, and increasingly it is becoming the preferred method of communication among committees and sections. If you haven't already, please consider providing us with your e-mail address. Contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA, or questions@wsba.org. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A link to your website can be added to your directory listing, so that current and potential clients can find out more about you and your practice at the click of a button. The fee is $75 annually ($50 for the first year if you sign up July 1 or later). If your firm has seven or more lawyers, you'll save through our special pricing structure. Special pricing is also available for those who work for nonprofit or government agencies. For more information and sign-up instructions, see www.wsba.org/lawyers/addlink.htm.
The WSBA online store is open. Go to www.wsba.org and click "WSBA Store" in the left navigation bar. Purchase Cutter & Buck polo shirts, twill baseball caps, ballpoint pens, and brass luggage tags emblazoned with the WSBA logo. The store features secure online credit-card ordering. You may also purchase logo merchandise by calling the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA or 206-443-WSBA. Polo shirt (pewter or white, size L or XL) $56 Prices include shipping and handling. Sales tax (8.8 percent) will be added to orders shipped within Washington. Back to table of contents >>
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