March 2006

The Board's Work

by Lindsay Thompson

Olympia, January 12, 2006

In January the Board of Governors traditionally meets in Olympia. They have meetings with the Supreme Court and members of the Legislature on topics of common interest.

They had a light agenda this meeting: four hours in public session. After approving the minutes of the December meeting, the Board approved the one item on the consent agenda: an amendment to the bylaws of the Labor and Employment Law Section.

Governor/Treasurer Mark Johnson told the BOG that WSBA's auditors gave the Association a clean report again this year. He said that in order to make it possible for more Washington lawyers to participate in WSBA-approved events, the Budget and Audit Committee approved a $5,000 fund to cover the costs of accommodation and travel for lawyers with disabilities. Governor Lonnie Davis is working on guidelines for the expenditure of the fund. Johnson said the Budget and Audit Committee is still looking into how to get a better return on WSBA investments, as the return has been lagging the inflation rate for some time. They are also looking at "unintended loopholes" that have emerged in armed-forces members' license fee exemptions.

The Board reappointed Chi-Dooh Li of Seattle to another term on the Bench-Bar-Press Committee. They nominated a former governor from Seattle, Lish Whitson, for a seat on the Board of Judicial Administration's Court Independence Response Team.

Governor Davis reported that the Committee for Diversity is working on a proposal for a policy on better access to WSBA events for members with disabilities, and will bring it up at the next meeting.

Governor Stan Bastian, who chairs the Awards Committee, brought up a committee idea to create another award, this one honoring lawyers for community service. The motion passed 12-0.

WSBA's administration and finance director, Julie Mass, gave the Board a report on administration and finance, with a PowerPoint presentation showing the department's staff and explaining what sorts of things they do.

Dan Fazio, who works for the Washington Farm Bureau, and Jerri Honeyford, who is president of the Yakima Farm Bureau, asked the Board to support modifying IOLTA rules to conform to state funding restrictions on paying for indigent legal defense. Former WSBA President Wayne Blair spoke in opposition. The Board agreed with Blair and declined to go along.

Former Governor Randy Gordon told the Board most Washington courts aren't meeting ADA standards, and the Board ought to be taking an interest in this. The situation is an impediment to access to justice, he maintained. Governor Davis reported that the ATJ Board's Impediments Committee is currently working on guidelines and a possible new court rule.

WSBA Legislative Director Gail Stone reported on WSBA's bills in the legislative session, but there wasn't much to tell, as the session was only four days along. The Board voted to back some initiatives from the Board of Judicial Administration on court funding that will also be offered as legislation.

Attorney General of Washington Rob McKenna dropped by to ask for support for two of his legislative proposals: a shield law to protect reporters, and a bill to limit government liability in lawsuits. The Board said "Hmmm" and didn't take any action.