“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead
As we close one chapter and step boldly into a new year, we find ourselves reflecting on the journey that brought us here. For King County Bar, the past year has been a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the unwavering commitment to justice that fuels all we do. Together, we’ve faced challenges, celebrated milestones, and continued our mission in the drive for a more equitable future. In this retrospective, we honor the collective efforts through history that have driven our organization forward and look ahead to 2025 with renewed purpose and determination.
As many of you already know, one major milestone in 2024 was the 50-year anniversary of the Neighborhood Legal Clinics. From a single clinic at the old Country Doctor site on 15th Avenue, the program continues to grow, work with partner organizations, and serve our neighbors across King County. Over the last half century NLC has helped over 200,000 people, and the program is constantly expanding its reach and developing new partnerships to better provide access to justice for all.
Of course, NLC isn’t KCBA’s only pro bono program, and the history of each of our programs is an equally fascinating study in collaboration, determination, and perseverance. None of our programs are possible without the support of volunteers, members, donors, grant providers, KCBA staff, and a hefty dose of tenacity. This cooperative approach has been true since the Bar was founded by a group of lawyers in 1886, largely to condemn local attorneys who supported illegal efforts to force Chinese immigrants out of town—“pestilential agitators” as the Bar’s inaugural resolution described them. This small band of people working together to do the right thing had no idea that they were creating a legacy that spans three centuries, and which has helped innumerable King County residents along the way.
The last 138 years haven’t been without challenges and 2024 was no exception, however despite the speed bumps on the road to the Bar’s future, KCBA has weathered them all. The most egregious historical error was the 1919 decision (during the First World War) to turn enemy aliens and labor “agitators” into the Justice Department, seemingly a complete U-turn from the founding principles of the Bar. Thankfully the Bar remembered its roots soon after the war ended and went on to be a vocal supporter of the accused during the McCarthy era and represented conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War.
As well as providing access to justice to the most marginalized folk in our community for well over a hundred years, KCBA recognized, over 50 years ago, the importance of diversification within the legal profession to make it more representative of the community it supports. The King County Bar Foundation was established in 1979 to fund scholarships started by Bill Gates Sr. in 1969 for minority law students at the University of Washington. These efforts weren’t easy to get started—Mr. Gates faced an all-member meeting called by some attorneys seeking his resignation as Bar President for proposing the scholarship fund. As we know, the story did not end there, and Mr. Gates survived as President and the scholarships have thrived.
Today, the Foundation is still committed to increasing diversity in the legal profession and providing a legal safety net for the most at-risk members of our community. In 2024, the Foundation awarded $175,000 to the University of Washington and Seattle University law schools for minority student scholarships, a cumulative total of over $3.25 million since the scholarships began. With the continued support of our KCBA community we hope to expand the amount we can offer students in the not-too-distant future.
Throughout KCBA’s long history it has stepped up to advocate social justice and public policy issues. This work always involves collaboration and would be impossible without the input, organization and knowledge of many.
The Bar led the march to reform Washington State’s drug policy and was an early advocate for the legalization of cannabis. In 2005 KCBA recommended establishing a taxed and regulated system for the distribution of cannabis, and then KCBA-President, Mark Fordham, addressed a state legislative committee later that year to advocate for a bill that would establish that system. This stance, while radical at the time, was a recognition by the Bar that the war on drugs overwhelmingly impacted ethnic and economically disadvantaged communities. In the two decades since the Bar announced its then controversial stance on drug policy reform, the system it suggested has become state law.
More recently the Bar led the call for the Supreme Court of the United States to establish a Code of Ethics comparable to that imposed on federal judges. The resolution, passed by the KCBA Board in January 2023, was passed by the American Bar Association in February of the same year. The resolution, and subsequent adoption by the ABA, was due to the hard work of a dedicated group of KCBA members who not only upheld the long-standing values of the Bar, but they also made a historical impact whereby SCOTUS passed a (non-binding) code of ethics, which while seemingly performative, has led to greater scrutiny of the Justices’ actions both within and outside the court.
At the time, then-KCBA President Tahmina Watson underscored the Bar’s historical commitment to justice, “KCBA was founded in 1886 to ensure lawyers use their power for the good of society and to protect the rule of law. Over a century later, we continue to live these values, and our mission statement includes that we work with the judiciary to achieve excellence, equity, and accessibility in the administration of justice. To that end, it is crucial that a code of ethics must bind the justices of the highest court of the land.”
KCBA’s pro bono programs are also key advocates for changes in public and social policy. Most of you are familiar with the Housing Justice Project’s great work during COVID and its deep involvement with the evictions moratorium and ongoing housing policy. Our other programs have been doing less visible but equally crucial work with community partners to make positive change in local and state legislation. In March 2024, Governor Jay Inslee signed Substitute Senate Bill 5998 into law, thanks in no small part to Oscar Aguirre, KCBA Records Project Staff Attorney. Oscar testified in favor of the bill at the Senate Committee on Law & Justice and the House Committee on Community Safety & Reentry, along with key advocates Quinton Baker of Forge Washington and Prachi Dave of Civil Survival. SSB 5998 amends the misdemeanor vacate statute so that the waiting period can begin before the individual has paid off all legal financial obligations. Prior to the enactment of this law, it could take longer to vacate a misdemeanor than to vacate a felony. SSB 5998 fixes this. The law took effect June 6, 2024.
The historical narrative of KCBA is one of a collective ambition to make the legal profession better and justice more accessible. It is an amalgam of past and present individuals and partner organizations, all working together towards a better future. And, as with any such lengthy backstory, there have been mistakes made, and growth and understanding gained through the lessons learned.
As we embark on 2025, and consider the implications of a new presidential administration, there are many uncertainties. However, as it has throughout its existence, KCBA will remain true to its mission. The success of our organization is built on the efforts of our dedicated members, volunteers, staff, and supporters, whose diverse contributions help us uphold our mission and adapt to an ever-evolving legal landscape. Together, we stand poised to navigate new challenges and seize emerging opportunities, ensuring KCBA continues to make a meaningful impact on our local community and the legal profession for decades to come.
Sophie Petersen is the Marketing & Communications Specialist at KCBA, where she has worked for 10 years—sophiep@kcba.org
