Chief Justice Richard P. Guy Receives Washington State Bar Association Outstanding Judge Award

Seattle, Washington, September 15, 2000 — Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard P. Guy was presented with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Outstanding Judge Award at a luncheon held in Spokane today. This award is given each year for outstanding service to the bench and for special contributions to the legal profession.

Chief Justice Guy has been called an innovative, activist leader for the entire justice system. In his nomination letter, WSBA President-elect Jan Eric Peterson wrote, "This past year, Chief Justice Guy's leadership has been extraordinarily energetic in his service to the bench and the profession."

Finalizing the efforts of the Washington State Commission on Justice, Efficiency and Accountability, he has led the restructuring of the state's Board of Judicial Administration. Chief Justice Guy also played a key role in reconstituting the 35-year-old Bench/Bar/Press Committee of Washington, broadening its free press/fair trial orientation to include other subject areas of relevance to judges, attorneys and members of the news media. Project 2001, formed after his State of the Judiciary address to the Legislature, includes members of the Board of Judicial Administration and the Legislature who will work to implement court reforms in the areas of alternative dispute resolution, court jurisdiction, unified family courts, trial court administration, enforcement of warrants and funding.

Utilizing results of a state judiciary survey on public trust and confidence, he helped advocate and create the Washington State Public Trust and Confidence Committee which is now actively at work. Chief Justice Guy also provided a comprehensive status report on the death penalty in Washington for the state Legislature and the public to assess the benefits and burdens of death penalty cases.

His personal and professional commitment to access to justice issues is highly visible both in the state and in Washington, D.C. — unique for a sitting Chief Justice. He has established a national reputation for his efforts and has strengthened national support for legal services to the poor.

In November 1989, Governor Booth Gardner appointed Richard P. Guy to the Supreme Court, where he has continued to serve by election. He will retire in November. A life-long resident of Spokane, he graduated from North Central High School, Gonzaga University and Gonzaga University School of Law.

Chief Justice Guy's legal career began in the state Attorney General's office. He went on to be a deputy prosecuting attorney for Spokane County. Under a USAID contract, he worked in Ghana and Ethiopia arranging foreign investments for U.S. businesses. Upon his return to the U.S., he served on the Spokane County Superior Court for four years, and was a principal in the Spokane firm of Winston & Cashatt. Throughout his nearly 40-year career, Chief Justice Guy has worked with numerous legal, charitable, civic and educational organizations, including the Spokane School Board.

The Washington State Bar Association is a private, non-profit organization authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state's 26,000 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 exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities.