The King County Bar Association Nominating Committee begins this month to identify candidates for the Board of Trustees and officers, with three-year terms to begin July 1, 2006.

Open officer positions are second vice president, who will advance to first vice president in 2007 and president in 2008, and secretary/trustee, succeeding J. Mark Weiss. Three other new trustees will be elected to replace outgoing Central District Trustees Joe Bringman, Carolyn Cairns and Gary Strauss.

Regular attendance is expected at semi-monthly board meetings. Other expectations are detailed on the web site, www.kcba.org, at "About KCBA." Information about a prospective nominee and why he or she would be a valuable addition to the KCBA board is appreciated.

For further information, please contact Alice Paine at 206-267-7015 or alicep@kcba.org or Nominating Commit-tee Chair John Cary.

KCBA also is seeking nominations for its annual awards. Nominations must be received by February 13, 2006. Submissions should be made in writing to Alice Paine, Executive Director, King County Bar Association, 1200 5th Ave. #600, Seattle, WA 98101.

The awards and criteria are:

• OUTSTANDING LAWYER: Recog-nizing distinguished and meritorious service to the legal profession and public in a profession-related activity.
• FRIEND OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION: Presented in honor of distinguished and meritorious service to the legal profession and justice system.
• HELEN M. GEISNESS OUTSTANDING LAWYER OR NON-LAWYER: Given for exemplary distinguished service on behalf of the King County Bar Association.
• OUTSTANDING JUDGE: Presented to a judge, active or retired, of the Seattle Municipal Court, King County District Court, King County Superior Court, Division I of the Court of Appeals, State Supreme Court, U.S. District Court, Western District, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Bankruptcy Court, for distinguished service to the legal profession, the judiciary and the public in a profession-related activity.
• WILLIAM L. DWYER OUTSTANDING JURIST: An award recognizing a lifetime of achievement as a judge in a court with jurisdiction including King County. This award is given in special circumstances, and is not necessarily an annual award.