Updated: May 16, 2022

Future Structure of the Washington State Bar Association

In light of recent constitutional challenges to integrated bar associations across the country, the Washington Supreme Court has asked the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors to consider three questions and make a recommendation back:

  • Does current federal litigation regarding the constitutionality of integrated bars require the WSBA to make a structure change?
  • Even if the WSBA does not have to alter its structure now, what is the contingency plan if the U.S. Supreme Court does issue a ruling that forces a change?
  • Litigation aside, what is the ideal structure for the WSBA to accomplish its mission?

UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court on April 4, 2022, denied certiorari for three cases challenging the integrated-bar structure: Taylor v. Heath (Michigan), Schell v. Darby (Oklahoma), and McDonald v. Borunda Firth (Texas).

The Board of Governors named the study process ETHOS — Examining the Historical Organization and Structure of the Bar. The process comprises eight full-day meetings between January and August 2022 — open to the public via Zoom and in person at the WSBA offices — to gather information and build a common understanding of the issue, to explore other bar structures, and to form a recommendation. Throughout each phase, the board has committed to gathering wide stakeholder feedback. Read the ETHOS charter.

Watch a 10-minute video snapshot of what’s happening and what’s at stake for the Washington State Bar Association.


ETHOS Meetings

All meetings will be held in-person 9 a.m.–4 p.m., unless otherwise noted, at the WSBA offices, 1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 600, Seattle, and via Zoom video conference.

Next Meeting

Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Davenport Grand Hotel, Grand Ballroom A
333 West Spokane Falls Blvd
Spokane, Washington

Join the Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 858 7639 6993; Passcode: 753406

Attend via Phone: 1-888-788-0099  
Meeting ID: 858 7639 6993

Agenda & Materials | Watch the Meeting


Upcoming Meetings

Saturday, May 21 (Spokane)

Saturday, June 18

Saturday, July 23

Saturday, Aug. 13

Past Meeting Materials

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Agenda | Materials | Late Materials | Watch the Meeting

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Agenda | Materials |  Late Materials |  Supplemental Materials |  Watch the Meeting

Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022  

Agenda |  Materials |  Watch the Meeting

Legal Background

In 2018, a U.S. Supreme Court decision — Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31 — undercut the foundation of a key case — Keller v. State Bar of California — that supports the constitutionality of the integrated bar structure. As a result, several lawsuits have cropped up throughout the country to challenge different integrated bar associations.

The main legal question under scrutiny is: Does it violate bar members’ First Amendment rights when they are required to be part of an integrated bar to practice law? Integrated bars, like the WSBA, perform both regulatory and professional-association functions. Concerns arise when an integrated bar engages in speech or activity that seems to stray from the bar’s primary duty of regulating the practice of law, and some members contend they should not be compelled to be associated with such speech/activity.

In the wake of Janus and associated lawsuits, in late 2018 the Washington Supreme Court convened the Washington Supreme Court Work Group on Bar Structure, which evaluated federal law developments, as well as the WSBA’s historical and existing structure and practices. In September 2019, the Work Group issued a final report with the recommendation to retain an integrated bar structure “for now.” Here is more information about the work and recommendation from that group.

So why are we looking at our structure again? Because legal challenges keep progressing. There are several recent conflicting decisions from circuit courts, which may be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court — and that decision would be binding for the WSBA. With that perspective, the Washington Supreme Court has asked the WSBA Board of Governors to again evaluate the structure of the WSBA and to make a recommendation about the three key questions above.

Resources

Input Opportunities

In addition to specific outreach opportunities and comment periods during meetings, you can send feedback to boardfeedback@wsba.org.

Questions?

Email boardfeedback@wsba.org

Want to Learn More?

WSBA Board of Governors and leaders are eager to talk to you! If you have a group that would like a presentation/question-and-answer session, or if you yourself would like to talk to someone to get more information, please contact WSBA Outreach Specialist Mike Kroner at michaelk@wsba.org or 206-727-8289. He will connect you with the right people, in a time and manner that work best for you.