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February 2005Around the StateAround the State reports are welcome from county and specialty bar associations. There are no rules for writing them, except to mention lots of your members. We leave it up to each organization to decide who does it, and to the correspondent to decide how often. Many counties are still available. Contact the editor at tradelaw@thompson-law.com for more information. Island County Report by Tom Pacher Greetings from the shores of Oak Harbor. WSBA District 2 Governor Eron Berg was kind enough to spend a lunch meeting with the Island County Bar Association November 30. Eron filled us in at length on the Board of Governors’ work, and I have to say — being a solo practitioner — I don’t know how he finds the time to fit his BOG work in with the rest of his practice. Despite having been licensed to practice for enough years now that the Young Lawyers Division stopped sending me stuff years ago, I had no idea just how much work the BOG does. Eron is to be commended for supplying his time not only to the BOG, but to our little group to fill us in. Next time he comes back to town, we’ll have to let him stop long enough to actually eat his lunch. The Volunteer Lawyer Program of Island County had their Open House a few weeks back. Local dignitaries and various important folks attended the event, which started off with local Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock playing his bagpipes. Keynote speaker for the event was Federal Judge John C. Coughenour, who spoke on the subject of unmet civil legal needs, the theme for the event. Also addressing the audience on the subject was Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill. The Open House succeeded in getting the attention of local lawmakers and the local press, the latter of which ran a nice story on the VLP and the lawyers who support it. Thank you to all of the judges and attorneys that help make the program run, and especially thanks to the program’s fearless leader, Rita Worley. I missed Judge Hancock’s bagpipe segment because of a court appearance, by the way, but I’m told the performance was stirring. I love listening to the pipes as a general rule, but in nearly five years in Island County, I have yet to catch one of His Honor’s performances. I’m hoping he’s going to put out a CD soon. Maybe we can find an entertainment lawyer to get him a record deal. In other recent Island County news (hey, we’ve been saving up), Island County Bar Association members elected Hans Juhl president for 2005 and Nathan Manni (who, by the way, is getting way too much ink for a guy with a bar number of about, like, a gazillion or so) was elected secretary/treasurer. Thankfully, the votes were unanimous, avoiding any need for any post-election distress. The Judiciary by Lindsay Thompson Governor Gary Locke ended his term with three more Superior Court appointments last fall. In September, Locke appointed Whatcom County District Court Judge Ira Uhrig to the Superior Court seat vacated by retiring Judge Michael Moynihan. As the only candidate for the seat in the November election, Uhrig was appointed to fill the time between Moynihan’s August 31, 2004, retirement and the beginning of Uhrig’s elected term in January. In October the governor appointed Camas attorney Robert A. Lewis to a new, ninth Superior Court judgeship in Clark County. Lewis previously served as a Clark and Skamania County court commissioner in addition to acting as assistant city attorney and municipal prosecutor in Camas. On December 21, 2004, Locke appointed Sally Olsen to a new Superior Court position in Kitsap County. Olsen was a King County deputy prosecuting attorney before going into practice in Kitsap 11 years ago. The governor noted Olsen was his 61st and last appointment to the Superior Court in eight years as governor. He also appointed five members of the Court of Appeals and two members of the Supreme Court. Thurston County Report by Fred D. Gentry TCBA’s annual Christmas lunch again, in cooperation with the Salvation Army, produced a generous response for the less-advantaged families in our community. Six families with children (as many as six in some cases) were “adopted.” Members of the Association, led by Frank Groundwater and Charles Szurszewski, purchased Christmas gifts and foodstuffs. The Christmas lunch also provided a venue for a tribute to retiring Judge Dan Berschauer. The highlight was Rob Hill’s song honoring Judge Berschauer, to the tune of “My Way”: Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew I’ve laughed/until I cried For what is a judge, what has he got (Copyright 2004, Rob Hill.) Chris Wickham, who defeated Jim Powers in an election featuring two highly qualified candidates, will replace Judge Berschauer on the bench. In Memoriam Wayne Bjur Longtime Zillah City Attorney Wayne Bjur was a lifelong Yakima Valley resident who took two cases to the U.S Supreme Court as an attorney for the Yakima Nation. He joined the bar in 1975 and was in private practice at the time of his death. Survivors include his mother, seven sisters and brothers, three children, and one grandchild. Robert Wayne Bjur was 54 when he died October 12, 2004. Laurie A. Daviess-White Law was a second career for Laurie Daviess-White, and part of a busy and varied life. After graduating from the University of Washington, she worked as a counsel for sight- and hearing-impaired people for the Department of Labor and Industries. Later she entered Seattle University School of Law and earned her law degree. She joined the bar in 1993. After a time practicing in the Tri Cities, Daviess-White moved to Wenatchee and worked in private and government practice before opening her own family law firm in 1998. She was a competitive horsewoman for most of her life and was a member of the Central Washington Dressage Association, the International Arabian Horse Association, and a variety of other organizations. She served as an adjunct investigative counsel panel member for WSBA. Survivors include her sister, her husband, and eight stepchildren. Laurie A. Daviess-White was born in Santa Monica, CA, February 2, 1950, and died in Olympia September 30, 2004, aged 54. Gabe Ibarra WSBA member Robert Perez provided this remembrance of his friend. Juan Gabriel (“Gabe”) Ibarra, of Seattle, died November 18, 2004, in a car accident four miles east of Cle Elum, Washington. He was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, on August 10, 1971, to Gumecindo and Juanita Ibarra Ramos. Raised in Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico, Gabe graduated from the University of Texas in May 1993 with a B.A. in American Studies, after which he taught seventh-grade history at Eagle Pass High School. After teaching for a year, Gabe moved to Pullman, Washington, to attend graduate school at Washington State University. Upon receiving his M.A. in Latin American Studies, Gabe taught history at North Seattle Community College. In August of 1996, Gabe began studies at the University of Washington School of Law and graduated with his J.D. in June 1999. Following graduation, Gabe began a one-year state court clerkship for Judge Marlin J. Appelwick, Washington Court of Appeals, Division I. After his clerkship, Gabe joined the law firm of Velikanje, Moore & Shore in Yakima. In February 2003, Gabe started his own law firm in Seattle and practiced there and in eastern Washington. In October 2004, Gabe bought his first home, in West Seattle. An avid traveler and golfer, Gabe was an everpresent friend, companion, and colleague. Gabe was 33 years old and will be dearly missed by his friends, including Stacy George, and his family, including his father, Gumecindo Sr.; his sisters, Dulce, Raquel, Rosa, Susana, and Yolanda; and his brother, Gumecindo Jr. He is preceded by his beloved mother, Juanita, who passed away on July 5, 1998. Donations may be made to the UW School of Law Alumni Scholarship Fund, with an indication that the gift is in memory of J. Gabriel Ibarra; Law Development, University of Washington School of Law, William H. Gates Hall, Box 353020, Seattle, WA 98195. Kenneth Reiserer Kenneth Reiserer grew up in Los Angeles and earned a degree from Oregon State University before joining the Navy and serving in Vietnam. He was awarded the Commendation Medal with the Combat V as well as the Bronze Star. Survivors include Reiserer’s parents, two sisters, his wife, two daughters, and a stepson. Kenneth Harris Reiserer was born in Rochester, NY, August 12, 1944, and died in Sammamish July 12, 2004, aged 59. Fred Schlick Fred Schlick practiced on Vashon Island for 43 years before enjoying a happy retirement. He died on a road trip with his wife, and at his death was laying plans with friends for a big celebration of his 85th birthday. Friends and family cited his passion for gardening, poetry, and political commentary. He joined the WSBA in 1950. Survivors include two sisters, his wife, two sons, and one granddaughter. Fred Schlick died September 27, 2004, aged 84. Charles W. Shepherd Chuck Shepherd served in World War II as a combat photographer, then won his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Washington. He joined the bar in 1954 and spent his career practicing in Edmonds. Shepherd was active in the Snohomish County Bar Association, served as a municipal judge, and was a governor of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. A trustee of the Stevens Hospital Research Foundation, Shepherd was involved in the establishment of Stevens Memorial Hospital in Edmonds. Survivors include his wife, three children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Charles Wilbert Shepherd was born in Gunnison, CO, October 8, 1919 and died in Edmonds September 29, 2004, aged 84. John F. “Jack” Raymond Jack Raymond attended Wenatchee High School and the University of Washington, where he received his law degree in 1952. From 1943 to 1945 he served in General Patton’s Third Army, 1st Platoon, 30th Field Hospital, receiving the Jubilee of Liberty medal for his service during the Normandy Invasion. Jack met his wife, Fern Simmons, at the UW; they married in 1950. From 1952 to 1992, Jack had a private law practice in Wallingford. He served as a municipal judge in Island County and as a district court commissioner. In 2002, Jack was one of only 100 WSBA members to commemorate 50 years of membership. Jack was active in the Seattle community, with nearly 50 years of service to Kiwanis International, including serving as a club president and camp director for Camp Casey, a camp for children with physical disabilities. Jack coached his son’s elementary school basketball team, receiving the “Man of the Year” Award for his service. He will be remembered with love by family, friends, and colleagues for his intelligence, sense of humor, wonderful stories, and beautiful rose garden. Jack is survived by his wife, Fern; four children; and nine grandchildren. John F. “Jack” Raymond was born March 29, 1923, in Anacortes, and died October 14, 2004, in Seattle, aged 81. David E. Williams David Williams attended Whitman College and earned his J.D. from the University of Montana in 1949 and L.L.M. in Labor Law from New York University in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was a founding partner and consultant for Critchlow, Williams and Schuster from 1953-2004. He was a founding mem-ber of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. During his 54-year legal career he was known as a zealous champion of the “little guy.” David was guided by strong moral principles; had a sharp wit; was an avid reader of historical nonfiction; valued education and hard work; loved children; and was a sports enthusiast, especially enjoying Huskie football games and his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. Above all, David valued family. He is survived by his wife, Kay; three children; and five grandchildren. David Williams was born March 2, 1922, in Walla Walla and died December 24, 2004, in Richland, aged 82. |
