Volunteer to Represent WSBA on a Committee or Organization
- Commission on Judicial Conduct — application deadline extended to April 26, 2024
- Washington Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee — applications deadline extended to April 26, 2024
- ABA House of Delegates — application deadline is April 26, 2024
- Judicial Information Systems Committee - application deadline April 26, 2024
Commission on Judicial Conduct
Application deadline: April 26, 2024
The WSBA Board of Governors is seeking applicants interested in serving on the Commission on Judicial Conduct. Two lawyer positions are available: one as a member and one as an alternate.
The Commission reviews complaints of ethical misconduct and disability against judicial officers, discusses the progress of investigations, and takes action to resolve complaints. The goal of the Commission is to maintain confidence and integrity in the judicial system by seeking to preserve both judicial independence and public accountability. The public interest requires a fair and reasonable process to address judicial misconduct or disability, separate from the judicial appeals system that allows individual litigants to appeal legal errors.
The Commission consists of 11 members who serve four-year terms — six non-lawyer members of the public, three judges, and two lawyers. Each member has an alternate whose term coincides with their corresponding member’s term. The lawyers must be admitted to practice in Washington and are appointed by the WSBA. Incumbents are eligible for reappointment, limited to two terms as an alternate member and two terms as a full member. Letters of interest and résumés are also required for incumbents seeking reappointment. The term for these positions will commence July 1, 2024 and expire on June 16, 2028.
There are five regular meetings each year. In addition, it is crucial that members be available to serve on contested hearing panels that occur up to two times a year and may take multiple days to complete.
To apply: please submit the following 1) letter of interest 2) résumé and 3) completed to Waiver and Authorization Form for Commission on Judicial Conduct to barleaders@wsba.org by March 29, 2024.
The Commission on Judicial Conduct has asked the WSBA to conduct discipline checks on all applicants. Further information about the Commission can be found online at www.cjc.state.wa.us, or by contacting them at 360-753-4585.
Washington Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee
Application deadline: April 26, 2024
One WSBA representative position is open on the Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee for a term beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2027. The Oversight Committee is responsible for overseeing the activities of the Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA), reviewing the performance of the OCLA Director, and making recommendations to the Legislature, the Supreme Court and the Access to Justice Board on matters relating to the delivery of state-funded civil legal aid services.
The current WSBA Representative (since 2018) is Chalia Stallings-Ala'ilima and is happy to answer any questions about the role.
WSBA seeks applicants who:
- Have a demonstrated interest and commitment to ensuring equity and justice for low-income and vulnerable people in our state’s civil justice system,
- Are committed to promoting bipartisan support for state-funded civil legal aid services, and effective non-partisan oversight of the state-funded civil legal aid system,
- Offer relevant leadership experience and/or potential, and
- Who will help enhance the racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, political and other diversity of the Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee.
To Apply: please submit a cover letter and resume to barleaders@wsba.org by Friday, April 26. For questions regarding this position, please contact Sara Robbins at sara.robbins@ocla.wa.gov or visit the website.
NOTE: Employees of programs funded by OCLA are not eligible to serve.
ABA House of Delegates
Application Deadline: April 26, 2024
The WSBA Board of Governors is accepting applications from members interested in serving on the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates representing the WSBA. Four (4) positions are available for two-year terms beginning at the conclusion of the August 2024 ABA Annual Meeting.
The control and administration of the ABA are vested in the House of Delegates, the policymaking body of the ABA. The House, composed of approximately 550 delegates, elects the ABA officers and board, and meets out of state twice a year. Delegate attendance is required. To ensure full voting capacity exists at all times, an alternate will attend if one of the delegates were unable to attend a meeting.
In accordance with WSBA policy, ‘WSBA ABA Delegate expenses shall be reimbursed up to a reasonable amount necessary to attend the ABA House of Delegate annual and midyear meetings only, not to include education and social event connected to the ABA Conference and ancillary meetings. Delegates should seek reimbursement from the ABA for approved expenses and seek reimbursement from the WSBA for those reasonable and necessary expenses not covered by ABA policy […].’ Members may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms. Those serving on the ABA House of Delegates must be ABA members in good standing throughout their terms.
To apply, email a letter of interest and résumé by April 26, 2024 to barleaders@wsba.org.
Judicial Information Systems Committee (JISC)
Application deadline: April 26, 2024
One position is open on the Judicial Information System Committee (JISC) for a term beginning Aug. 1, 2024 and ending July 31, 2027. The WSBA will nominate applicants to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court.
The JISC's responsibilities include, but are not limited to, setting the strategic direction for the JIS, approving budgets and funding requests for the JIS, determining what JIS projects will be undertaken and establishing their scope, establishing JIS policies, standards and procedures, and oversight of JIS projects.
The committee is composed of four members from the appellate court level, four members from the superior court level, four members from the courts of limited jurisdiction level, and three at-large members from outside the judiciary, one who is a member of the WSBA, one who is a member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and one who is a member of the Washington State Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
For more information about the JISC, see the JIS web page or contact Arsenio Escudero at arsenio.escudero@courts.wa.gov or (360) 704-4068.
To apply, please email a letter of interest and resume to barleaders@wsba.org by April 26, 2024.
