Congressman Jim McDermott to Receive Washington State Bar Association World Peace Through Law Section's 2004 Ralph J. Bunche Award

Seattle Washington, March 26, 2004 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) World Peace Through Law Section announced that Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) is the recipient of this year's Ralph J. Bunche Award, which honors an individual who has made significant contributions toward the goal of achieving international peace. While members of the WSBA World Peace Through Law Section represent varying points of view, section members who chose to vote for this year's award unanimously voted to recognize Representative McDermott's courage and leadership in publicly discussing legal concerns of the Iraqi invasion. The award, named for the recipient of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize, will be presented by WSBA President-elect Ronald Ward to Congressman McDermott at a luncheon to be held April 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle. Congressman McDermott will speak after the presentation of the award. WSBA members and the public are invited to attend; cost, including lunch, is $35 (students/seniors $25). For a registration form, please visit www.wsba.org/lawyers/groups/worldpeace, or contact the WSBA Service Center at 800-945-WSBA, 206-443-WSBA, or questions@wsba.org.

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, 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 president is David W. Savage of Pullman. 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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