March 2001

The WSBA Presidency

by Jan Michels
WSBA Executive Director
janm@wsba.org

At the January 8, 2001 swearing-in of Chief Justice Gerry Alexander and the newly elected justices, WSBA President Jan Eric Peterson presented Tom Chambers to the Supreme Court for his oath of office.

Jan Eric Peterson’s presentation included the fact that Tom Chambers is a past president of the WSBA (1996-1997). Chief Justice Alexander, a historian by nature and interest, then gave his first "factoid" of the ceremony — that only one other Washington Supreme Court justice was a past president of the Bar Association. Justice Thomas Grady served as WSBA president from 1939 to 1940.

Since 1888 there have been 110 WSBA presidents. Twenty-seven are still living. David Huff, the oldest living past president, joined us for a celebration of Richard Eymann’s presidency at the Arbor Crest Winery in Spokane. At Celebration 2000, the Spokane law firm of Delay, Curran, Thompson, Pontarolo and Walker hosted a past presidents’ dinner. We enjoyed an evening of reminiscing with 16 presidents and guests. (Joseph Delay was the WSBA president from 1991 to 1992.) These "living legends" each shared a few highlights of their presidential years. Many acknowledged that the WSBA presidency represented a career epitome parallel to taking a judicial position.

Many of our emeritus members know these past presidents in much more depth than I do, and each president deserves a detailed profile for newer members to appreciate. Unfortunately, this space allows for only a brief description of the WSBA presidency and acknowledgment of the gifts past presidents have left.

At the past presidents’ dinner, emcee Don Curran commented that "the WSBA presidency seems to require the constitution of an Olympic athlete, the patience of a mother, and the endurance of a marathoner." He added, "Presidents give 60 percent of their time for their year of office." Curran mused that some may see the WSBA presidency as nothing more than dealing with inflammatory issues such as budgets, mandatory liability insurance, unauthorized practice of law, pro bono reporting, dues increases and rollbacks, executive director turnover, discipline reform, governance revisions, mandatory arbitration, diversity, access to justice and long-range planning. Curran told the past presidents that with the benefit of hindsight they could now view the presidency as involving only two issues: social and political ones, which are often insoluble; and economic ones, which are sometimes bewildering. For their dignity, brilliance and fortitude in navigating these issues, past presidents are repaid with appreciation, legends and colorful anecdotes.

On the lighter side, Curran quoted one past president who stated that his goal upon taking office was to be a "former." As a former, he said, "faults are forgiven, eccentricities are looked upon as evidence of sturdy individualism, and one’s accomplishments are generously magnified." Curran never allowed the board to confer the privilege of presidential service on him!

Many past presidents continue to serve the Bar. In a recent show of solidarity, the past presidents since the creation of the Access to Justice Board (except those prohibited by judicial cannons from political activity) jointly signed a letter to Governor Locke asking his support for increased access to justice funding. The immediate past president is a de facto member of the Board for Judicial Administration, and many past presidents are called on for special service on boards, commissions and task forces.

The WSBA has begun the selection process for the 2002-2003 president. According to the WSBA Bylaws, the president for this term must work in King County. Governor Victoria Vreeland is chair of the Presidential Search Committee and welcomes letters or calls of interest. (A full description of the process appears on page 52 of this issue.)

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