The Honorable Stephen J. Dwyer Receives Washington State Bar Association's Outstanding Judge Award

Seattle Washington, September 23, 2003—On September 22, the opening day of the 46th Washington Judicial Conference held at the Sheraton Hotel in Tacoma, the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) presented the Outstanding Judge Award to the Honorable Stephen J. Dwyer. The Outstanding Judge Award is presented annually by the WSBA "for outstanding service to the bench and for special contribution to the legal profession." J. Richard Manning, 2002-2003 WSBA president, presented the award to Judge Dwyer.

The Outstanding Judge Award may be presented to a judge from any level of court. Stephen J. Dwyer, who received his B.A. from the University of Puget Sound in 1979 and his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1982, is currently presiding judge of the Snohomish County District Court (SCDC), and president of the District and Municipal Court Judges Association (DMCJA). He is also a key member of the Board of Judicial Administration. He has been an SCDC judge and a member of the DMCJA since 1995.

In 2001, Judge Dwyer received the Washington State Trial Lawyers' Association Judge of the Year Award. In 1999, he received national recognition as one of only two Washington judges appointed by the Chief Justice to attend the first National Judicial Leadership Conference, and in 2000 was the only judge from Washington to attend the conference. He is president of the District and Municipal Court Judges' Association, and previously served two years as its legislative chair and three years on its board of governors. He is also a key member of the Board of Judicial Administration. He has coached youth baseball and football teams, and has been active in the Law Day program. Each year, Judge Dwyer teaches classes on legal issues for senior citizens at Edmonds Community College.

"Judge Dwyer is an outstanding jurist," wrote Edmonds City Councilmember Deanna Dawson, who also serves as Chair of Snohomish County Washington Women Lawyers Judicial Evaluation Committee. "In the dozens of times I appeared in front of Judge Dwyer, I was consistently impressed by his professionalism, his grasp of the legal issues before him, and his willingness to listen to both sides of an issue. Judge Dwyer is also known for making an effort to give feedback—both constructive criticism and positive reinforcement—to new attorneys who appear in his court. Judge Dwyer has helped me and many others improve as attorneys, because he was willing to take the time to share his advice and insight."

Dick Manning, in presenting the award to Judge Dwyer, also spoke of Judge Dwyer's willingness to mentor young lawyers. "One of Judge Dwyer's truly wonderful contributions off the bench to lawyer professionalism is his mentoring of young lawyers," he said. "Judge Dwyer makes us all very proud."

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Charles Blackman wrote, "I have found him to be an impartial and extraordinarily thoughtful judge, who subjects matters before him to such intellectually rigorous analysis as one might expect in appellate courts rather than courts of limited jurisdiction. He's read the briefs, and he's read the cases, and if you're in front of him you'd better have, too. Judge Dwyer sets the bar high, for both ethics and advocacy, and makes those who practice in front of him stretch to meet those standards. I am a better lawyer because of him."

"Judge Stephen Dwyer is certainly one of the most distinguished district court judges of which I am aware," wrote Edmonds attorney David C. Ryder. "Not only does he display the usual qualities we expect of our best judges (intellect, independence, even-handedness, and patience), but he has ruled on tens of thousands of cases over his career on a myriad of issues without apparently favoring any particular sector. On the criminal side, his reputation is 'tough but fair.' On the civil side, he is equally favored by both sides."

Lynnwood attorney James W. Kovak wrote, "I have always been impressed with Judge Dwyer's consummate professionalism in performing his judicial duties. He runs an extremely disciplined and efficient courtroom. He is greatly respected for the objectivity of his rulings and the compassion he shows toward the criminal defendants."

About the Washington State Bar Association
The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's 27,600 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, andadministers 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.

The governance of the WSBA is vested in its 14-person Board of Governors. There are three governors from the seventh congressional district; one from each of the other eight districts; and three at-large members, one of whom represents the Young Lawyers Division. The current president is David W. Savage of Pullman, and the president-elect is Ronald R. Ward of Seattle. The board meets every six weeks at various locations around the state, and its meetings are open to the public. Much of the work of the WSBA is carried out through its 23 standing committees, 24 sections, and a Young Lawyers Division.

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