The KCBA Board of Trustees met on May 21. President Erin Overbey called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance.

I hope everyone is staying cool after the heatwave in June and still looking forward to the summer. Whether it’s splashing in the pool, sipping cold lemonade, or relaxing in the shade with family and friends, this is the perfect time to enjoy the simple pleasures of summer. Hopefully, we’re all finding a moment to slow down and soak in the season.

Office Space

Office space in Issaquah available with conference room, Internet, kitchen available for monthly or longer terms. Please call Dana Carrothers at 425-395-7787 or email at dana@carsonnoel.com.

MERIDIAN OFFICE BUILDING: Mailbox, conference room, suites, and offices available in building owned and operated by non-profit Northwest Danish Association. Amenities include parking, kitchenettes, event space, reception, onsite management, and friendly community. On bus lines and 15-minute walk from Northgate Station. Contact Preben 206-523-3263, mob@nwdanish.org.

Updates: The KCBA New Lawyers Division board met virtually May 13 at our standing monthly meeting. At the meeting, the board reviewed nominations for new board members for the 2025-26 board term, which starts July 1, 2025. 

Thank you to everyone who joined KCBA at the Superior Court on Law Day, May 1, for the retaking of Washington’s Oath of Attorney. The turnout was spectacular, with standing room only in the courthouse’s largest courtroom!

Presiding Judge Ketu Shah draws attention to the escalating threats and vilification of judges — fueled by social media, public officials, and general misunderstanding of the judicial role — which pose a serious risk to civil society and the rule of law. Judge Shah underscores that disagreement with judicial decisions should be addressed through the appellate process, not personal attacks or calls for impeachment. He asks the legal community to actively support initiatives that promote understanding of the courts and protect the judiciary from politicization and violence. 

In a heartfelt and humorous tribute for Father’s Day, Michael Goldenkranz and his brother honor their recently passed 94-year-old father, celebrating his enduring legacy of civic engagement, generosity, and wit. A Navy veteran, lifelong volunteer, and longtime campaign treasurer for Senator Schumer, their dad led by example. With a personality reminiscent of Clint Eastwood characters, he urged others to step up and give back. Through vivid anecdotes and loving memories, the sons paint a portrait of a man who not only taught everyday skills and lasting lessons but also left behind a legacy and a call to action.

When I started my term a year ago, I certainly did not anticipate that we would be called upon to offer statements of support and join amicus briefs for law firms in our community, pushing back against sanctions from Executive Orders directed at these firms. I knew I would be attending the ceremonies where our newest members of the Washington bar take their oath, led by our Presiding Judge, Ketu Shah. The oath ceremony is one of the best events I get invited to as a member of the KCBA Board. Our new members exude such positive energy, and it’s really very exciting to think about all the contributions they will make in years to come. I definitely did not predict how these events would ultimately be linked, but it turned out to be a high point of my term.

As I sat down to write this column, I found myself reflecting on my time at the King County Bar Association and, in particular, my very first responsibilities as Associate Executive Director. A glance through my archived emails revealed that one of my earliest assignments — dating all the way back to February 2007 — was to serve as the staff liaison to the KCBA Awards Committee. Nineteen years and a position change later, I’m still honored to support this dedicated group of volunteers, many of whom return year after year to thoughtfully select the recipients of the Association’s annual awards.
 

In "Always Appealing," accomplished attorney Catherine Smith explores a key irony: the stronger the legal issue on appeal, the more likely a case will be remanded to the same judge whose ruling was reversed. Using the recent Washington Supreme Court case State v. Gator’s Custom Guns as a springboard, Smith explains the standards governing judicial reassignment on remand, highlighting that such reassignment is rare and generally only warranted when a judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Smith notes that this rarity can discourage even meritorious appeals, as litigants often lack confidence that the same judge will apply the corrected law impartially, which is a perception to fight against.