Speak Up for Justice, Washington!
Speak Up for Justice, Washington!
Speak Up for Justice Washington! is partnering with county bars, which will host events throughout the state eligible for 1.5 CLE credits. See below for a list of upcoming dates and locations; we will continually update the list as more events are confirmed.
- Snohomish County Bar Association. Monday, Dec. 8, noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Snohomish County Health District Auditorium, 3020 Rucker Ave., Everett, WA.
- Benton-Franklin Counties Bar Association. Wednesday, Dec. 17, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Meadow Springs Country Club, 700 Country Club Road, Richland, WA.
- Chelan-Douglas Bar Association. Thursday, Feb. 19, noon, at Pybus Public Market, 3 N. Worthen St. in Wenatchee, WA. Register to attend.
- Clark County Bar Association. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at AC Hotel by Marriott on the Vancouver Waterfront, 333 W. Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA. Register to attend.
- Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association. March 11, 5:30 p.m., at University of Washington Tacoma campus, in Tacoma, WA. Registration information coming soon.
- Yakima County Bar Association. Friday, March 27, at Yakima County Superior Court, 128 N. Second St. in Yakima, WA. Registration information coming soon.
- Spokane County Bar Association. Friday, April 10, 3 p.m., at the John J. Hemmingson Center, Gonzaga University, 702 E. Desmet Ave. in Spokane, WA. Registration information coming soon.
- Thurston County Bar Association. Friday, April 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Tugboat Annies, 2100 Westbay Drive in Olympia, WA. Registration information coming soon.
- Scheduling in progress with: King County Bar Association, Skagit County Bar Association, and Whatcom County Bar Association.
The rule of law and independence of the judiciary are hallmarks of our constitutional democracy. Recently, judges throughout Washington and the nation have sounded the alarm: By doing their jobs in accordance with and in support of these basic principles, they have become targets of unprecedented levels of violence and threats of violence. Misinformation continues to spread, and public trust and confidence in the legal system, as well as many other foundational U.S. institutions, are at a crisis point.
What to do? The WSBA’s Rule of Law Ambassador Program would like to help legal professionals learn more about the urgency of the situation and to feel empowered to speak up in their communities to counter misinformation and build relationships to support their court systems. We are launching a touring CLE called Speak Up for Justice Washington! to do just that. A panel of federal, state, and local judges will share their experiences and then ambassador leaders will provide resources and training on effective ways to speak up and out for the rule of law.
Overall, we want every legal professional to be ready, in their sphere of influence, to lower the violent rhetoric, to educate about the importance of an independent judiciary as a cornerstone of democracy, and to make it safer for all legal professionals to do their jobs now … and into the future. This aligns with the Rule of Law Ambassador Program’s mission, which is to help legal professionals spread education, civic engagement, and trust and confidence in our legal system, which are core responsibilities and roles for both individual lawyers and the WSBA.
In the News
WSBA President, Executive Director send call to uphold rule of law amid immigration actions in Minneapolis.
Federal judges warn of rise in threats and harassment.
Board of Governors signs on to ABA statement in support of the rule of law.
Board of Governors issues statement supporting legal professionals' obligation to represent without fear of retribution.
A Message of Solidarity from the Bench
As part of a national Speak Up for Justice movement, Western-Washington federal judges Hon. Robert Lasnik and Hon. John Coughenour shared their recent experiences receiving violent threats and actions, both to themselves personally and their families. Watch that recorded panel for a preview of the Washington-specific tour. Judge Lasnik and Judge Coughenour spearheaded our grassroots campaign and will be staples of our panels, with local judges joining them at each event.
Interested in a tour stop in your area of the state? Want to learn more? Contact ambassadors@wsba.org.
