December 5
The KCBA Board or Trustees met with then-King County Presiding Judge Michael Trickey and Judge Bruce Hilyer, the incoming presiding judge, about budget, security and facility issues — all topics of interest to the Board. Kathleen Royer provided an overview of the Family Court Facilities Master Plan Project and distributed a summary of the plan, which provides better access to and integration of services through centralization. KCBA will play a major role in educating the public about this issue.
The Board approved the adoption of the Resolution on the Control of Marijuana as written, recommending that marijuana should be regulated and taxed, and most criminal sanctions should be eliminated. There were two abstentions to this vote.
President Eileen Concannon invited the Board to the “Supporting Pakistani Lawyers Forum,” which was held December 6 at Riddell Williams. The educational forum was a follow-up to the successful and well-publicized march and rally held in Seattle in response to the ABA call to action.
December 19
Peter Greenfield of the Guardian-ship and Elder Law Section presented the section’s work to change Medicaid income eligibility for elderly and disabled adults by raising it to the poverty level. The current level is $623/month; federal poverty level is currently $851/ month. The Board voted to support proposed legislation to enact the increase.
The Board approved support for the proposals the ABA Commission on Immigration was to bring before the House of Delegates at the mid-year meeting in February, addressing fee levels for cases involving immigration benefits and immigration detention conditions.
As reported in the February issue of the Bar Bulletin, the Board received and approved amendments to the bylaws.
January 16
Andrew Prazuch, KCBA’s new executive director, was introduced to the Board. He has been meeting with board members, staff and community leaders to acclimate himself to KCBA and Seattle. He announced that KCBA has a new finance director, Israel Ghebretinsae.
The Board approved the proposed amendments to the Labor and Employ-ment Law Section bylaws as written and presented by Chair Amy Stephson.
February 6
It was announced that the KCBA-sponsored Bench Bar Conference will be held again this year. Carl Forsberg and Judge Trickey chaired the committee last year; Forsberg has offered to assist this year’s committee as well. Judge James Doerty will serve as co- chair; a search for a second co-chair is under way.
Prazuch presented the executive director’s report, updating the Board on his work thus far and his plans for the future. Prazuch will work with the Membership Committee, chaired by Second Vice President James Andrus, to increase membership and member benefits; will work with First Vice President Dan Gandara regarding the revenue and production of the Bar Bulletin; and has been working with the new finance director and Treasurer Richard Mitchell to streamline the current financial systems and processes, and to develop new systems.
Concannon reported that the Judicial Evaluation Committee survey was well received by both judges and the media. (Please see the January issue of the Bar Bulletin for more information.) All committee members and participants in the survey process were thanked and commended for their hard work.
King County Bar Foundation President Colleen Kinerk and Marzette Mondin updated the Board on the Foundation’s two-fold mission of generating funds to support the bar’s pro bono programs and working to increase diversity in the legal profession. The Foundation organizes the annual Future of the Law Institute and serves as the largest provider of private scholarships to U.W. and S.U. law school students.
Lobbyist Donna Christensen reported on the status of the following bills:
- SB6583, regarding the income eligibility levels for medical assistance, made it out of committee. It has strong support with a fiscal note to phase in this bill. Fiscal Committee deadline was February 12. KCBA sent a letter in support of this bill.
- SSB6060, the unlawful detainer and change in summons bill, supported by HJP and CLS, has not yet come out of committee. Christensen requested calls to Sen. Adam Kline (D-37/Seattle) to put the bill on the schedule.
- SSB3048, the child dependency hearing bill (pilot project), has lots of support from both the Legisla-ture and advocates; hopefully it will go on to Appropriations.
- SSB 6716, the same-sex partner benefits bill, was heard, passed on to the Rules Committee, and was awaiting action on the Senate floor.
These selected issues were before the Board of Trustees on the above dates. Complete minutes of these meetings are available from the KCBA office.
Joan Tierney, KCBA secretary/trustee, is the associate director of the Seattle University School of Law Center for Professional Development.
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