Board Approves Legislative Agenda
The following are highlights from the KCBA Board of Trustees meeting held on December 18, 2024, convened by KCBA President Erin Overbey.
The KCBA Board of Trustees held their Board meeting on December 18, 2024. After President Erin Overbey called the meeting to order, she welcomed the Trustees, guests, and staff to the final meeting of the calendar year. She also expressed her gratitude for the Trustees’ service and announced plans to meet with firms to discuss a much-needed KCBA communications plan and statement of neutrality to be in place by the first quarter of 2025.
Board Decisions
The Board approved the meeting minutes for the November 20, 2024 Board meeting and KCBA’s 2025 Legislative Agenda.
Also, the Board approved American Bar Association Delegate Kathleen Hopkins’ request for Board approval to continue working with the NYC Bar on refining the Supreme Court ethics resolution and to present the final draft for Board approval in January 2025.
Lastly the Board approved the appointment of Thomas Tobin, Lawrence Ward, and Yvonne Chin to the Leadership Development and Nominations Committee. Other committee members include Jennifer Payseno (Chair), Judge Paris Kallas, Stew Cogan, Robert Flennaugh II, Eric Lansverk, and Shashi Vijay.
Updates
Executive Director Kathleen Jensen updated the Trustees on CBA negotiations regarding staff salaries, holiday closures, a year-end giving campaign which raised over $11,000 for KCBA, and a new project with Pico Logic to move KCBA and the Housing Justice Project to a SharePoint environment.
The New Lawyers Division (“NLD”) Chair, Amanda Simantov, reported on a successful holiday trivia event and an upcoming Courthouse Dogs Foundation event in February that may be opened to a broader audience.
Per Treasurer Neal Black, KCBA is currently at 42% of its annual budget and expenses are currently trailing revenue. KCBA is likely to achieve a balanced budget by the end of the fiscal year due to savings on particular positions.
Member Services Director, Bridget Schuster, reported on KCBA’s 50% discount offer for membership for the remainder of the fiscal year to increase membership numbers. She reported on an immigration CLE organized by Past President Tahmina Watson, that attracted about a hundred attendees despite a short marketing timeline and led to a proposal for a wellness program for Immigration Section members. Ms. Schuster also encouraged the Trustees to attend and/or sponsor KCBA’s Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Luncheon on Friday, January 17, 2025.
Pro Bono Service Director Judy Lin reported Edmund Witter’s resignation as Senior Managing Attorney of the Housing Justice Project (“HJP”) and Renee Ballou’s agreement to serve as interim managing attorney. Ms. Lin also reported highlights from the Statewide Kinship Care Coordinator’s Biennial Report to the Legislature.
President Overbey updated the Board regarding HJP and the Interim Bar Bulletin Committee. With regard to HJP, President Overbey reported on KCBA’s meeting with the Legal Foundation of Washington (‘LFW”) and their discussion about legal representation in eviction cases in King County. LFW clarified that their funding for HJP is secure through 2026. KCBA is working with counsel and is exploring the need to hire an executive director for HJP. The Office of Civil Legal Aid (“OCLA”) also shared plans to change how cases are handled in King County due to the overwhelming caseload. The Board also discussed the HJP transition.
Lastly, President Overbey mentioned the potential of reviving the Bar Bulletin Committee, which is responsible for reviewing content for the Bar Bulletin, and the search for a person to serve as the editor of the Bar Bulletin.
