November 2004

Congratulations to the 2004 WSBA Annual Award Recipients

Congratulations to this year’s Annual Awards recipients! The awards, with the exception of the Pro Bono Award, the Outstanding Judge Award, and the President’s Award, were presented at the Annual Awards Dinner in Seattle on September 16. For additional information about each recipient, see the news releases on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/media/releases.

Award of Merit
First given in 1957, this is the WSBA’s highest honor. The Award of Merit is most often given for long-term service to the Bar and/or the public, although it has also been presented in recognition of a single, extraordinary contribution or project. This year’s recipients are David Boerner (photo not available) and Ellen Dial.

Professionalism Award
This honor is awarded to a member of the WSBA who exemplifies the spirit of professionalism in the practice of law. “Professionalism” is defined as the pursuit of a learned profession in the spirit of service to the public and in the sharing of values with other members of the profession. This year’s recipients are Robert Boruchowitz and Jeffrey Jahns.

Angelo Petruss Award for Lawyers in Public Service
Named in honor of the late Angelo R. Petruss, a senior assistant attorney general who passed away during his term of service on the WSBA Board of Governors, this award is given to a lawyer in government service who has made a significant contribution to the legal profession, the justice system, and the public. This year’s recipients are Sally Bagshaw and Rhonda Brown.

Outstanding Judge Award
This award is presented for outstanding service to the bench and for special contribution to the legal profession at any level of the court. This year’s recipient is the Honorable Richard Jones.

Pro Bono Award
This award is presented to a lawyer, nonlawyer, law firm, or local bar association for outstanding efforts in providing pro bono services. This award is based on cumulative efforts, as opposed to a lawyer’s or group’s pro bono hours or financial contribution. This year’s recipient is Matthew Kenney.

Courageous Award
This award is presented to a lawyer who has displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity, thus bringing credit to the legal profession. This year’s recipient is Ada Shen-Jaffe.

Lifetime Service Award
This is a special award given for a lifetime of service to the WSBA and the public. It is given only when there is someone especially deserving of this recognition. This year’s recipient is Wayne Blair.

President’s Award
This award is presented annually in recognition of special accomplishment or outstanding service to the WSBA during the term of the current president. This year’s recipient is David Swartling.

Excellence in Diversity Award
This award is made to a lawyer, law firm, or law-related group that has made a significant contribution to diversity in the legal profession’s employment of ethnic minorities, women, and disabled persons. This year’s recipient is Dean Sandra Madrid.

Excellence in Legal Journalism Award
This award recognizes that describing the context, facts, and players involved in the legal system with fairness and sensitivity requires intelligence, knowledge, dedication, and skill. The award is given to the journalist and his or her organization that has set the standard for relevance, clarity, accuracy, and understanding in reporting. This year’s recipients are Seattle Times reporters Ken Armstrong, Florangela Davila, and Justin Mayo.

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