It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your President for the last twelve months. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

May is a busy month. We hope to see many of you at the Breakfast with Champions event on May 9th hosted by the King County Bar Foundation. Our KCBF President Scott Collins wrote about it so eloquently last month; if you haven’t read his column, please do. He covers in great detail why the event is important to our legal community. It will be a fantastic breakfast with philanthropist and former Seattle Seahawk Doug Baldwin. The event is almost sold out, so I hope you were able to snag your ticket!

How times have changed! When I started as a volunteer attorney for the Neighborhood Legal Clinics 34 years ago, KCBA provided access to justice for our low-income neighbors by coordinating a network of pro bono legal services staffed by volunteers. While many of those same volunteer programs continue today, KCBA has dramatically evolved in its delivery of pro bono civil legal services to our community. That evolution has been more out of necessity than choice.

It is not every year that we have the chance to influence the accountability of the highest court in the United States. In these first months of 2023, KCBA has played a major role in moving the nation forward in demanding that its highest court take steps to protect its integrity.

Congratulations all on getting through the first month of 2023. It has been a rocky entry into the new year for me. I hope it has been good for you. In January, we held our annual MLK luncheon celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After a few years of having the event online, we were finally able to gather in person, for which I am so thankful. Thank you to all of you that joined us at this sold-out event. Thank you to our KCBA staff for the usual excellence in organizing a beautiful event with attention to all the small details.

Happy new year! I hope you had a great holiday season and are having a good start to 2023.

2022 was a mixed bag for me. I leave behind some low moments while rejoicing in some high ones, too. Personally, and professionally, 2023 brings much promise, and I look forward to seeing how the year unfolds.