February 2005

Opportunities for Service

2005 Notice of Board of Governors Election

Nomination deadline: March 1, 2005

Four positions on the WSBA Board of Governors will be up for election this year. These are the governors representing the 3rd, 6th, 7th-East*, and 8th Congressional Districts. These positions are currently held by Joni R. Kerr (3rd District), Howard L. Graham (6th District), Andrea Brenneke (7th-East District), and Randolph I. Gordon (8th District).

The WSBA Bylaws provide that any member in good standing, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may be nominated for the office of governor from the Congressional District (or geographical region within the 7th District*) in which such member is entitled to vote. Nominations are made by filing a statement of interest and a biographical statement of no more than 100 words.

Generally, members are entitled to vote in the congressional district in which they reside. All out-of-state active WSBA members are eligible to vote in the district of the address of their agent within Washington for the purpose of receiving service of process as required by APR 5(e), or, if specifically designated to the executive director, within the district of their primary Washington practice.

Nomination forms are available from the Office of the Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; 206-727-8244; and on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/info/bog/2005bogelections.htm. The WSBA executive director must receive nomination forms by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, 2005. The Board of Governors determines the official dates of the election. Ballots are mailed April 15 and counted approximately May 15.

Note: The biographical statements of nominated candidates will be published in the May issue of Bar News.

*The 7th Congressional District is divided into three sub-districts — East, Central, and West. These sub-districts are distinguished by zip codes and each has one elected governor. For the coming year, the east sub-district (zip codes are 98028, 98055, 98105, 98115, 98118, 98122, 98125, 98129, 98144, 98145, 98155, 98178, and 98185) will elect a new governor.

Call for Applications for One of Two Board of Governors At-large Seats

Application deadline: March 1, 2005

To increase member representation on the Board of Governors, the WSBA Bylaws provide for two at-large seats. The full text of the Bylaws can be reviewed at www.wsba.org/bylaws. One of those seats is up for election to a three-year term commencing at the close of the annual meeting in September 2005.

Persons interested in filling an at-large position should submit a letter of application. The deadline for receipt of applications at the WSBA office is March 1, 2005. The Board of Governors will elect the at-large governor at its meeting on June 3, 2005. The application should include a statement addressing how the applicant feels he or she meets the intent specified in Article III, Section M. There is no intent that these seats are dedicated or rotationally filled by any one element of diversity or group of members.

(Excerpt from the WSBA Amended Bylaws, Article III, Section M)

M. ELECTION OF AT-LARGE GOVERNORS. Any active member of the Bar, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may apply for the office of At-Large Governor, except as provided in this Section. Filing of applications shall be in accordance with Section C of this Article.

At the regularly scheduled June meeting of the Board of Governors following the regular election of Governors from Congressional Districts, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, the Board of Governors shall elect additional Governors from the active membership at-large. Election may be by a secret written ballot. There shall be two at-large Governor positions to be filled with persons who, in the Board's sole discretion, have the experience and knowledge of the needs of those lawyers whose membership is or may be historically under-represented in governance, or who represent some of the diverse elements of the public of the State of Washington, to the end that the Board of Governors will be a more diverse and representative body than the results of the election of Governors based solely on Congressional districts may allow. Under-representation and diversity may be based upon the discretionary determination of the Board of Governors at the time of the election of any at-large Governor to include, but not be limited to, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, diversity, geography, areas and types of practice, and years of membership, provided that no single factor shall be determinative.

Members interested in an at-large position on the Board of Governors should submit a letter of application and résumé to the Office of the Executive Director, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; oed@wsba.org.
 
The Board for Judicial Administration Best Practices Committee  — One Position

Application deadline: March 28, 2005

The WSBA Board of Governors will be nominating one member who is appointed by the Supreme Court to serve a two-year term on the Board for Judicial Administration Best Practices Committee, the term will commence on June 1, 2005. Incumbents are eligible for reappointment and must also submit a letter of interest and résumé. The committee actively and extensively participates in the selection, endorsement, dissemination, and implementation of best practices in court operations and administration, and is committed to a process of continuously assessing and updating the practices. The committee is currently working on establishing court performance measures to implement court performance audits as provided by GR 32.

Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to the Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; barleaders@wsba.org.

Statute Law Committee — Two Positions

Application deadline: February 18, 2005

The WSBA Board of Governors is accepting letters of interest and résumés from members interested in serving a six-year term on the Statute Law Committee (which oversees the operation of the Office of the Code Reviser), commencing April 1, 2005. A written expression of interest and résumé are also required for incumbents seeking reappointment.

This 12-member committee of lawyers seeks to foster accurate publication of laws and agency rules services in a professional and strictly nonpartisan and cost-effective manner. The primary responsibilities are to periodically codify, index, and publish the Revised Code of Washington; and to revise, correct, and harmonize the statutes of administrative or suggested legislative action as may be appropriate. The committee meets at least twice a year.

Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; barleaders@wsba.org.

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