Legal Community to Gather in Spokane September 13–16 for Celebration 2000

Seattle, Washington, August 9, 2000 - Lawyers, judges and others involved in our legal system will assemble in Spokane September 13-16 for Celebration 2000, anticipated to be the largest legal gathering in Washington state history.

Under the theme of "Working Together to Champion Justice," Celebration 2000 will be an unprecedented opportunity for members of the bench, bar and access-to-justice community to come together to discuss legal issues and goals, and consider how to champion justice for all residents of our state. Numerous dignitaries are on the schedule for the four-day program, including Attorney General Christine O. Gregoire, Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard P. Guy, Madam Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dube of the Supreme Court of Canada, President of the Legal Services Corporation John McKay, Provost of Northeastern University David Hall, and Emmy award-winning journalist Catherine Crier.

Commented WSBA President Richard C. Eymann, "Incorporating the annual fall Judicial Conference, the annual Access to Justice Conference, the Bar Leaders Conference, and a revival of the Washington State Bar Association convention, Celebration 2000 will be a truly monumental event. At Celebration 2000, we will dedicate ourselves to maintaining a healthy and vibrant system of law and justice accessible to all, reflect on our rich heritage, and share our visions for the future.

"We're also looking forward to involving the Spokane community. The opening ceremony will feature the marching band from Joel E. Ferris High School and the Color Guard from Fairchild Air Force Base. We have invited local high schools to send students to a mock jury trial, and anticipate that several hundred students will be in attendance. The mock trial, produced by the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, promises to be both entertaining and educational. It will include pre-trial motions, jury selection, examination of witnesses, opening statements and closing arguments. Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard P. Guy will serve as the trial judge for this exceptional program."

Other highlights of the conference will include an opening session which will look "back to the future" with a program featuring Clay Jenkinson as Thomas Jefferson engaged in conversation with two 21st century futurists, an Awards Luncheon honoring this year's recipients of the Washington State Bar Association awards, recognition of the Bar's 50-year members, and a sitting of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals followed by a Q&A session. Also on the agenda are workshops addressing public legal education in Washington, multidisciplinary practice, contemporary issues of children and the law, diversity within the profession, the use of technology in the courtroom and the law office, and access to justice in the 21st century. Social activities include a golf tournament, fun run fund-raiser, family barbecue, the annual Access to Justice skit, a cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene, and numerous receptions.

Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard P. Guy said, "As we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, the most challenging and significant of responsibilities for those of us involved in the delivery of legal and justice services is to redesign our civil justice system to provide efficient, fair and prompt civil justice services to all, including those who cannot afford the cost of conventional forms of legal representation and dispute resolution. Celebration 2000 will provide the opportunity for us to share ideas and will facilitate our working together to devise innovative, flexible and varied solutions."

The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) is a non-profit organization authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state's 25,000 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association - all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar examination, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, it provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities. The mission of the WSBA is to promote justice and serve its members and the public.

The Washington State Judiciary includes more than 400 elected judges, serving on four levels of court: the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, superior courts and courts of limited jurisdiction.

The Access to Justice Board was established by the Washington State Supreme Court in 1994 to ensure access for low- and moderate-income residents of Washington state to the civil justice system through high-quality legal services. The nine-member Board works collaboratively with

the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington Judiciary, legal services providers, law schools, local and specialty bar associations, and others on a wide range of projects designed to improve access to the justice system. It has become a nationally recognized model as a result of its effectiveness in developing, coordinating and implementing statewide access-to-justice initiatives.