Richard W. Larsen Receives Public Legal Education Award

Seattle Washington, November 15, 2002 — Richard W. Larsen, a well-known journalist and promoter of civic education in Washington who passed away in 2001, was honored today by the Council on Public Legal Education for his lifelong efforts to illuminate the worlds of politics, civics and criminal justice. Larsen's family accepted the first-ever Flame of Democracy Award from Washington State Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland at the annual meeting of the Bench-Bar-Press Committee of Washington. The award will be presented periodically to individuals and organizations for excellence in educating the public about the law, democracy and the justice system.

Larsen was a founding member of the Council, and was unanimously chosen to be the first recipient of the Flame of Democracy Award. His career spanned the worlds of journalism, politics and education. He is best known for his 22-year career at the Seattle Times, where he was highly respected for his coverage of government and politics. Larsen also wrote a nonfiction book about serial killer Ted Bundy that was made into a movie; served on the boards of several civic organizations; and worked as a political consultant.

The Council on Public Legal Education, which is administered by the Washington State Bar Association, promotes public understanding of the law, and civic rights and responsibilities by conducting, coordinating, encouraging and publicizing public legal education efforts in Washington. The Bench-Bar-Press Committee of Washington was formed in 1963 to foster better understanding and working relationships between judges, lawyers and journalists who cover legal issues and courtroom stories.

The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's 27,300 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.