Did You Know? The KCBA New Lawyers Division is currently seeking applications and nominations for the 2025–2026 board service term. Volunteering for the NLD Board of Trustees is a great way to get involved with KCBA NLD and network with other attorneys in their first 10 years of practice. 

Approved April 16, 2025, by the KCBA Board of Trustees

1. The mission of the Bar Bulletin is to publish content that is of practical interest to the general legal community of King County. Content about current legal developments or pertaining specifically to King County or Washington State is favored. All content published in the Bar Bulletin should further its mission.

In response to derision over a politically charged article, the KCBA Board of Trustees formed a Task Force to review Bulletin editorial practices. Led by Benjamin Gould (this article’s author), the Task Force recommended greater oversight, clearer editorial guidelines, and reestablishing a review committee. The KCBA Board adopted new guidelines in April 2025 to prevent future issues, limit political content, and clarify that opinions published do not reflect KCBA viewpoints.

In recent years, we’ve read and heard many describe American culture as having entered a “post-truth” era. The headlines are numerous, often with references to the rise of misinformation and blind political partisanship. 

Some things change, while other things remain the same. Mediating cases over the past several years, I have witnessed that fear appears to be an unfortunate guiding light for many attorneys, young and old. It comes in many forms: fear of failure, fear that someone will take something from me, fear that I won’t get what I want, or worse, what I think I deserve.

Nicholas Bartels discusses the impact of remote court proceedings and the need for uniformity in appellate court rules. While trial courts have adapted their rules to accommodate virtual hearings, the Rules of Appellate Procedure remain unchanged, leading to inconsistencies among the three appellate divisions. Bartels argues that a standardized approach, similar to one division’s “meet and confer” process, would balance the benefits of in-person arguments with the accessibility and convenience of remote appearances. He weighs potential drawbacks against needs for transparency and predictability, and welcomes feedback from our community as he prepares to propose a rule change.

Pat Scanlon explores how businesses must approach AI not just as a technological tool but as a fundamental driver of organizational change. He draws parallels between AI adoption and past technological revolutions, emphasizing that success hinges on strategic planning and cultural readiness. Many businesses struggle with AI implementation due to uncertainty and resistance to change. To overcome this, leaders must foster employee engagement, provide training, and establish governance frameworks that balance innovation with ethical oversight. Attorneys can play a crucial role in guiding businesses through this transformation, ensuring AI becomes an integrated and trusted part of their operations.

I find history fascinating. For historical scholarly research, JSTOR is absolutely my favorite database. While I don’t get to dig into historical scholarship very often for my work now, I still get my fix through JSTOR Daily, a daily newsletter with “original, research-backed articles that help you understand the world.” While the main JSTOR database is behind academic institution paywalls, JSTOR Daily articles allow free access to underlying scholarship. I frequently find my interest piqued by a newsletter article and dig deeper into the subject. Often, there’s a clear through-line that runs from a historical narrative discussed in a JSTOR Daily article to what’s currently happening. As Mark Twain said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”
 

Suite available in 3 story boutique lawyer only building in the Interbay area of Seattle.

MERIDIAN OFFICE BUILDING :Mailbox, conference room, suites, and offices available in building owned and operated by non-profit Northwest Danish Association

Spring is finally here. Hopefully, that means taking some time away from desks, briefs, and dockets to enjoy the springtime. On my end, I plan on visiting my alma mater to view the twenty-nine cherry blossoms at the University of Washington Quad. They’re worth checking out.