“If you don’t know where you are going, any wind is the right wind.”
–Seneca
As your new King County Bar Association Board of Trustees begins the 2007–08 year, we are excited, inspired and encouraged by our Board members’ complexity, inquisitiveness, dedication and collective and individual visions. Personally, I have never participated on a board or committee with stronger-spirited individuals or where more difficult questions have been asked at the infancy of the relationship. What this tells me is that our year together will be dynamic, very productive and a heck of a lot of fun!
For those few of you who adapt and react comfortably to “life just happens,” rest assured that we will devote a considerable amount of time and resources toward issues and demands as they arise. For those of you who, like me, are more comfortable “in control,” I will recap some of the Association’s ongoing initiatives and projects and predict their likely course of action.
I also have outlined — and hopefully will have the support to implement — some new ideas that might interest you. As a board, we must consider new issues and projects (and creative approaches to old ones) if we intend to continue to provide top quality services to our members, profession, judiciary and the larger community. Even though the Association’s various plates are more than full and have been for several decades, we realize that “times are a’changin.’”
Ongoing Commitments
For the last several years, our colleagues have successfully implemented dozens of programs, projects, coalitions and relationships that the Association should and will continue to endorse and develop. Some of these include:
The Judicial Selection Coalition — This multi-disciplinary group addresses issues relating to several steps in our judges’ lives including: selection by commission appointment versus election by voters; campaign financing limits; voter information; assurance that our judiciary remains “independent” (and is perceived by the public as “independent”); and judicial performance evaluations. KCBA recently received two coveted national awards as a result of the Coalition’s fall 2006 Web site, www.votingforjudges.org: the Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association (see photo) and the Justice Award from the Foundation for Improvement of Justice. The $10,000 Foundation award will fund further development of the Web site.
The Judicial Screening Committee — This dedicated committee of 73 volunteers reviews applications, contacts references and “rates” judicial candidates based upon dozens of colleagues’ evaluations on an as-needed basis. The time-consuming screening system is well respected for its thoroughness and objectivity.
The Bench/Bar Committee — This committee meets regularly with the Superior Court presiding judge and members of the court’s administrative staff. Topics focus on a variety of court-related issues including: facilities planning, staffing, judicial evaluations, court funding, bench/bar conferences and rules review.
The Drug Policy Project — The DPP Committee continues its nationally acclaimed work, which analyzes drug offenders in the context of our courts, penal institutions and communities. The Committee’s innovative and objective approaches to criminalization issues and drug usage have laid the cornerstone for future projects.
Diversity Related Projects — The Committee on Ethnic Diversity in the Legal Profession will continue to encourage greater diversification in our ranks. The Committee is sponsoring a comprehensive forum on retention of minority lawyers on September 7 and September 24 at the WSBA offices. The Committee also will continue to support our local law schools in their outreach to minority students. In addition, the King County Bar Foundation’s nationally recognized Future of the Law Institute will again introduce 75 diverse high school students to our profession on November 30 and December 1. Dozens of judges and lawyers will participate in the two-day workshop. If you are interested in observing this inspiring conference, contact Josh Isgur at KCBA.
New Issues, Approaches and Projects
The Judicial Evaluation Process — Every two years, the Association distributes questionnaires to public- and private-sector attorneys to compile performance information for our Superior Court and District Court judges. This year, Superior Court judges will be evaluated using a new, efficient, easy-to-use online survey. Only lawyers who have appeared before a judge on a substantive matter will be eligible to comment on that judge’s abilities and demeanor. (See related article on Page 32.)
Relevant Legislation and Lobbyist Efforts — For the first time in our history, we have retained a full-time lobbyist to assist us in identifying and timely responding to relevant legislation. A five-person rapid response team will meet with the lobbyist at least weekly during the session. The Legislation Committee, Family Law Section, Drug Policy Committee and other constituent groups also will actively participate in legislation-related discussions with the Board and lobbyist.
Statewide Justice Organizations — The boards from both the Association and Foundation will be meeting in September with many of our state’s justice organizations to discuss their work and one of our mission statement principles: “to promote a just … and accessible legal system.” We will explore shared goals and mutual concerns about access to justice by all.
New Member Services and Benefits — Several exciting new services and benefits are being considered, including: a Leadership College for junior attorneys; a downtown Speaker Series; initiating a “Second Season of Service” for retiring attorneys; a comprehensive evaluation of our CLE programs; expansion of our vendor benefits; and a concerted effort to recognize and address the needs of all of the generations of diverse attorneys working side-by-side in today’s legal community.
Executive Director Replacement — After 19 years as our Association’s executive director, Alice Paine will be retiring in January. We have enlisted the assistance of a search firm and a dedicated group of members to provide us with a slate of excellent candidates to fill this very critical position.
Bar associations throughout the country focus on a “desire to increase efficiency, boost participation and ensure that leaders feel their involvement makes a difference.” Please assist our Board so that we can map our course for the next several months, reach these goals and meaningfully contribute to you as a member, as well as to our profession, judiciary and community. I look forward to hearing from you.
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Eileen M. Concannon is a principal at Riddell Williams P.S., specializing in commercial litigation, mediation and arbitration. For references or comments, please contact her at econcannon@riddellwilliams.com.
