Port Angeles Attorney S. Brooke Taylor to Serve as 2004-2005 President-elect of the Washington State Bar Association

Seattle Washington, June 22, 2004 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) announced that Port Angeles attorney S. Brooke Taylor has been elected to serve as WSBA president-elect in 2004-2005. Taylor will serve as the WSBA's 115th president in 2005-2006.

Taylor was born and raised in Port Angeles, where he has practiced law since his admission to the Bar in 1968. In 1965, Taylor earned a B.A. in political science from Stanford University, and in 1968 a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

From 1969 to 1970, Taylor was a deputy prosecuting attorney for Clallam County, and in 1970 was elected Clallam County prosecuting attorney. For 15 years, from 1975 to 1990, he was an owner and partner in Taylor & Taylor P.S. in Port Angeles. In 1991, the two oldest law firms in Clallam County merged to form Platt Irwin Taylor, where he is currently an owner/partner, with an emphasis on plaintiffs' personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning, and probate. The firm has offices in Port Angeles, Sequim, and Port Townsend.

Taylor was elected to the WSBA Board of Governors in 2000 and served a two-year term. He served as WSBA treasurer in 2001-2002. Since 2001, Taylor has been chairman of the WSBA Facilities Committee. He was 2003-2004 WSBA liaison to the District and Municipal Court Judges' Association, and founder and co-chairman of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (WSTLA) Super Seminar. He is also a frequent WSTLA seminar presenter.

Taylor is well known for his commitment to serving the people of the North Olympic Peninsula. His community honored him in 1999 by naming him Clallam County "Citizen of the Year." Taylor's community involvement includes serving as member and director of the Port Angeles Kiwanis Club, director and president of the Clallam County Family YMCA (he is a recipient of the YMCA National Distinguished Service Award), director of the G.M. Lauridsen Foundation, director and president of the Clallam County Community Mental Health Center, member and director of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and director and president of the Peninsula College Foundation.

Throughout his WSBA leadership experience, Taylor has focused on the issues of diversity and relevance. He was instrumental in bringing about what the Board of Governors calls the "Diversity Amendment" to the WSBA Bylaws, leading to the creation of three governor at-large positions. In fact, the language that was finally adopted has been called "the Taylor draft," due to Taylor's efforts to make the definition of "diversity" as broad and inclusive as possible. But he isn't stopping there. "While expanding the Board of Governors has been a very important step, it is not enough," he said. "Bar leaders must continue to reach out to all segments of our membership to inform regarding the WSBA services and programs available to them, and to involve our members in governance at all levels. Reaching out will be a theme of my presidency. We must continue a special effort to reach out to those elements of our profession who have traditionally been unrepresented, and our profession will be the stronger for it."

In support of Taylor's election, a number of his colleagues wrote letters of recommendation. Following are quotes from just four of them:
"Brooke Taylor is an excellent model for the legal profession," wrote Dr. Thomas Keegan, president of Peninsula College, who has worked with Taylor in Taylor's capacity as president and an executive board member of the Peninsula College Foundation. "Brooke has integrity, he is generous in his caring for others, and he leads by example."

"Brooke has consistently evidenced a deep commitment to the needs of the membership now and well into the future," wrote Ellen Dial of Perkins Coie, who for three years has served with Taylor on the WSBA Facilities Committee. "Brooke is a leader and a fine steward of the goals, aspirations, and practical needs of the profession."

WSBA Past President Dale Carlisle wrote, "Brooke has the respect and admiration of all who work with him. When he speaks, others listen, and he has the ability to generate work and enthusiasm from those with whom he comes in contact. His involvement in and support of pro bono and access to justice programs have been an important feature of his service to the Bar."

"He leads by example, not just by words," wrote Port Townsend attorney Karen Gates Hildt. "His integrity is impeccable, his courtesy in the face of adversity always unfailing, and his diligence in meeting his commitments unsurpassed."

About the WSBA
The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state's 28,200 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.

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, 23 sections, and a Young Lawyers Division.

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