July 2001

Opportunities for Service

Service opportunities with WSBA committees, boards and organizations can be very rewarding. Please inquire and/or apply to the contact person specified.

Washington State Bar Association
2101 4th Ave., Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98121-2330

Board of Governors Election

Bryce Dille is the 2001-2004 Governor from the 9th Congressional District. Twenty-seven (27) percent of the approximately 1,071 active members of the 9th Congressional District cast their votes. Ballots were counted on Tuesday, June 19 at the WSBA office. Bryce Dille of Puyallup received 199 votes and Stephanie Delaney of Seattle 89 votes.

The WSBA Character and Fitness Committee, Disciplinary Board, Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Committee, and State Board of Continuing Legal Education all include nonlawyer citizen members. The WSBA is always interested in member referrals of nonlawyers to these important committees and boards. Members may suggest volunteers to their governor, or applicants may submit letters of application to the WSBA, Office of the Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Avenue, Suite 400., Seattle, WA 98121-2330, or e-mail oed@wsba.org. Service on these boards is voluntary. Members are reimbursed for travel and related expenses; meetings are generally held at the WSBA office in Seattle. All appointments are for three-year terms.

•  Character and Fitness Committee: Conducts hearings on Bar applications where there is a significant question as to the applicant’s moral character. Hearings typically involve review of criminal histories, record of academic discipline (cheating and plagiarism), and previous Bar discipline for lawyer applicants. In addition, the committee considers petitions for reinstatement after disbarment. The committee generally meets two to four times a year on Saturdays.

•  Disciplinary Board: Reviews all recommendations for suspension or disbarment and is generally responsible for lawyer discipline. The board meets six times a year for full-day meetings. In addition, board members serve on three-person review committees which meet three to four times per year for full-day meetings to review investigation reports and requests for reconsideration of grievances dismissed by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

•  Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection Committee: Considers applications for reimbursement for the dishonest taking of funds or property by lawyers. The committee meets quarterly for half-day meetings.

•  State Board of Continuing Legal Education: Responsible for the accreditation of approved continuing legal education programs, and for enforcing required compliance by WSBA members. The board meets five to seven times per year for full-day meetings.

Nonlawyer citizen participation on these boards and committees enhances the WSBA’s mission and credibility as a self-regulating agency. Citizen members consistently report that the experience is extremely interesting and enlightening, and enhances their understanding and appreciation of lawyers and the legal profession.

Application deadline: August 1, 2001

At its May 2001 meeting, the Board of Governors adopted Bylaw amendments and application procedures for implementing two new at-large positions on the Board of Governors.

Letters of application are invited and should include a description of how the applicant fulfills the intent of section M of the amended Bylaws (see next page). Please submit letters of application to the WSBA, Office of the Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Fourth Fl., Seattle, WA 98121-2330. At its September 2001 meeting, the board will interview candidates and fill both at-large seats, one a regular three-year term, and the second a two-year term.

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. Filing of applications shall be in accordance with Section C of this Article, except that any candidate who has run for and failed to win a Congressional District position in that election year may supplement his or her petition to run for an at-large position within 7 calendar days of the announcement of the election results.

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 pursuant to the election schedule set forth below. 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, sex, geography, areas and types of practice, and years of membership, provided that no single factor shall be determinative.

In order to implement the election of the two at-large members to staggered terms, the following process will occur. One at-large member will be elected in 2001 to a regular three-year term, and the position will be elected every three years thereafter. One at-large member will be elected in 2001 to a two-year term, and the position will be elected for a regular three-year term every three years thereafter. Each new at-large Governor shall take office at the close of the next annual meeting of the Bar following such election.

Filing deadline: July 13, 2001

Young lawyers interested in serving on the WYLD Board of Trustees are invited to submit a statement of eligibility and qualifications for the following trustee district positions: King District (representing King County), Pierce District (representing Pierce County), and Southwest District (representing Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties).

To be eligible for one of these positions, a candidate must reside or have his or her principal place of business in the district he or she wishes to represent, and must be a member of the WYLD for the entire term of the position. Elected trustees will serve a three-year term commencing October 1, 2001.

Any active member of the Washington State Bar Association is also a member of the Washington Young Lawyers Division until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns 36, or until December 31 of the fifth year in which he or she has been admitted to practice, whichever is later.

Filing deadline: July 13, 2001

Young lawyers interested in serving as president-elect of the WYLD are invited to submit a statement of eligibility and qualifications for this position. The president-elect automatically succeeds to the position of WYLD president upon completion of a one-year term commencing October 1, 2001. To be eligible for the position of president-elect, candidates must have a principal place of business in Washington, and must be a member of the WYLD at the time of taking office for the president-elect position. Additionally, the Bylaws require that the president and president-elect have principal places of business in different counties. Therefore, this year’s candidates may not have a principal place of business in King County.

Any active member of the Washington State Bar Association is also a member of the Washington Young Lawyers Division until December 31 of the year in which he or she turns 36, or until December 31 of the fifth year in which he or she has been admitted to practice, whichever is later.

Send statements of eligibility and qualifications to: Sherri L. Jefferson, WYLD President-elect, c/o Stoel Rives, 600 University St., Ste. 3600, Seattle, WA 98101; e-mail sljefferson@stoel.com.

CASA Volunteers Needed

King County Superior Court is seeking volunteers to serve as Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). Volunteers receive extensive training to represent children involved in custody and visitation disputes in family law cases. They conduct interviews, write reports, and testify in hearings or trials. For information, contact Ed Greenleaf at 206-296-9320.

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