By Fredrick Tausend

This year, the King County Bar Association will present its Outstanding Lawyer Award for Distinguished Service to the Public and the Legal Profession to Federal Public Defender Thomas W. Hillier II.

Tom is the longest-serving Federal Public Defender in the nation, having held that position since 1982. He has earned the highest respect from his fellow public defenders, from the judges before whom he and his assistants regularly appear, from the lawyers and staff of the Defender’s office, from U.S. Attorneys, and law enforcement agencies. In short, he has the respect and admiration of every branch of the criminal justice system and everyone with whom he has professional contact.

As United States District Judge John C. Coughenour has observed:

The most significant fact about Tom is that he has rendered exceptional service to indigent persons accused of crime and to our entire federal justice system for 23 years. He is a superb advocate of his clients’ interest, runs what may well be the most outstanding Public Defender’s office in the Federal system, and fully understands and lives his responsibilities as defense lawyer for the poor and as an officer of the court.

In the view of United States Magi-strate Judge Monica Benton: “Mr. Hillier’s reputation for passionate advocacy is eclipsed only by his dedication to just application of constitutional principles. As shown in many cases he has been indefatigable, diligent in providing equipoise to the inflammatory aspects of terrorist prosecutions.”

As his colleagues at the bar are well aware, Tom could have pursued private practice and been one of the premier criminal defense lawyers for private clients, with much higher remuneration. He has chosen instead to remain as public defender because of his intense dedication and commitment to the mission of the defender’s office.

Tom heads an office that now includes 19 lawyers in Seattle and Tacoma and supporting staff of 30. They look to Tom as a truly visionary leader who has made the office a key component of the overall strength of the federal criminal justice system in western Washington.

Tom’s former First Assistant, Peter Offenbecker, now in private practice with Skellenger Bender, describes Tom as “...an inspirational leader of the criminal defense bar throughout the state-- someone who has been instrumental in raising the standard of defense in capital cases. Tom has seen to it that indigent defendants charged with capital crimes receive zealous and first-rate legal representation that is at least the equal of the best that money can buy.”

Defenders who regard Tom as their “Boss” admire him his for his tireless and effective efforts to provide them all the support possible within the federal system, including the fiscal and investigative resources necessary to represent their clients. As one of them has said, “Because of Tom’s leadership, we never feel limited or restricted because we are public defenders.”Another assistant public defender added: “The respect which all of the federal judges in the Western District have for Tom Hillier inures to the benefit of his entire office.”

A graduate of St Martin’s College in Olympia and a 1973 graduate of Gonzaga Law School, Tom teaches Trial Advocacy at the University of Washington Law School, where he is regarded as an inspired and effective teacher by students and faculty alike. He and his wife Stephanie and their two daughters live on Bainbridge Island.