Office Space

In his seminal “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the words that hang in law offices and courthouses across the nation: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.”
 

Shaun Watchie Perry took on a pro bono asylum case for a detained client fleeing persecution and uncovered serious errors by his prior attorney. Though Perry rebuilt the case, the judge dismissed key evidence and denied relief, reflecting systemic bias. Perry urges lawyers to take immigration cases to defend due process and stand with vulnerable clients.

Last year I wrote in this space regarding two decisions from the Washington Supreme Court in which all of the justices agreed there was an error, but they disagreed about what, if anything, they could or should do about it.¹ The Supreme Court issued another such decision two months ago in Luv v. W. Coast Servicing, Inc.² This article starts with a discussion of the complicated procedural history of Luv, then discusses the three opinions in the case, and then offers my own thoughts on the case.

“The most important thing an institution does is not to prepare a student for a career but for a life as a citizen.”
— Frank Newman, American education reformer

“We cannot sustain a democratic republic with a citizenry that is completely uninformed about, and basically estranged from, our Constitution and our institutions.”
— Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

As the year draws to a close, so too does the annual influx of donation requests from nonprofits across our region. Each envelope or email received represents an organization striving to meet urgent needs. If you are like me, your mailbox is fuller than ever with requests from those who provide essential human services and others who fight the diseases and social challenges that shape our daily headlines. When these requests come in, I am reminded of this year’s uncertainty; however, they also bring a renewed sense of hope as I see our community supporting one another in new and inspiring ways.

Leading professional-malpractice defense lawyer Lori Worthington Hurl has built a career grounded in preparation, collaboration, and her mother’s example. She balances a busy practice with grace and good humor, credits mentors and close peers for her success, and supports others with kindness and community service.

“It’s Sept. 22, 2025, and an account manager named Lauren walks down the busy hallway and knocks on her boss’s door. But this meeting does not go like it should. For seven years, Lauren has worked to build her accounts, sell medical supplies, stand up for her coworkers, and make money for the company. Lots of money for the company. Today she is hoping for the good news that her work will be recognized; maybe she will be promoted for her leadership and her success. But her boss has something else in store for her.

Karen Murray highlights KCBA’s long history of shaping public policy to advance justice and equity — from legal aid in the 1930s to today's fight for housing justice. She urges community members to join the Public Policy Committee and be part of the next milestones.

Howard Goodfriend decodes how a Washington Rule of Appellate Procedure can bind respondents when appellants don’t order a full trial transcript. He explains the respondent’s options and why it’s better to pay up for an adequate record than risk losing on review later.