FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
January 9, 2006      

Contact Judith Berrett
Director of Member and Community Relations
206-727-8212; judithb@wsba.org

WSBA Board of Governors to Meet in Olympia, January 12-13

Seattle, Washington, January 9, 2006 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Board of Governors will hold its next meeting on January 12 and 13 at the Phoenix Inn Suites in Olympia. Third District Governor Kristal Wiitala will welcome the Board to Olympia. The public meeting will be held on Thursday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Friday morning, the Board will have its annual private meeting with the Washington State Supreme Court.

On the agenda for the Thursday afternoon meeting is an informational presentation by Attorney General Rob McKenna about two bills the Attorney General's Office is sponsoring: one relating to limiting the liability of public entities, and one relating to shielding reporters from confidential sources.

There will be discussion of a proposed possible restriction of IOLTA funds (proposed court rule change to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.14). (IOLTA stands for Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts. Funds lawyers receive that belong to a client must be maintained in an interest-bearing trust account while in the lawyer's possession. If the funds are nominal in amount or are expected to be held for such a short period of time that the funds would not be able to earn net interest payable to the client, they must be put in an IOLTA account. The interest paid on monies in IOLTA accounts is used to support civil equal justice activities.) Speaking in favor of the proposed amendment will be Bellevue attorney Diana Kirchheim, and speaking in opposition to the proposed amendment will be Seattle attorney and member of the Access to Justice Board Daniel Gottlieb. The Board may vote on whether to support or oppose the proposed amendment.
 
WSBA Legislative Director Gail Stone will present a report on the opening of the 2006 Legislative Session, and the many bills and initiatives of interest to the WSBA and its members. WSBA Treasurer Mark Johnson will report on fiscal matters, and the Board will vote on a proposed change to the WSBA's investment policy. Also on the agenda is a report from WSBA Director of Finance and Administration Julie Mass.

Joining the Board of Governors for Friday's luncheon will be members of the Thurston County Bar Association and the Government Lawyers Bar Association. The co-presidents of the Thurston County Bar are Paul H. Meyer and William B. Pope. The president of the Government Lawyers Bar Association is Anthony P. Mauhar Jr. Highlighting the luncheon will be the presentation of two WSBA Local Hero Awards, recognizing lawyers who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities. The Government Lawyers Bar Association has nominated Richard Hemstad, former state senator, who passed away last month. Accepting the award on his behalf will be Micki Hemstad, Mr. Hemstad's widow. The Thurston County Bar Association has nominated Olympia attorney Nancy Koptur. WSBA President Brooke Taylor will present the awards to Ms. Hemstad and Ms. Koptur.

About the WSBA
The WSBA is an instrumentality of the state exercising a governmental function authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state's 29,800 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, the WSBA administers the bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; and administers the lawyer-discipline system. 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 2005-2006 president is S. Brooke Taylor, of Port Angeles, and the 2005-2006 president-elect is Ellen Conedera Dial, of Seattle. The Board meets regularly (every six weeks) at various locations around the state, and its meetings are open to the public. Much of the work of the Bar is carried out through 23 standing committees; 24 sections; and a Young Lawyers Division, with its many committees.