The practice of law is known for being adversarial, but establishing common ground is often the key to success. Before resolving what is in dispute, lawyers recognize all that is agreed upon: definitions, limitations, evidence, and rules are common ground to which even the most ardent legal adversaries can agree.

Team-building is an important part of leadership. In any workplace, we must trust each other, communicate effectively and share responsibility for collective outcomes. All members of the team deserve recognition for their contributions and effort to achieve mutual goals. Progress depends on productive relationships between coworkers and colleagues. And, having a positive workplace environment is important to work satisfaction and retention of valuable team members.Thus, we neglect team building at our peril. As leaders, we need to devote time and attention to team building, communicate its value and model the behaviors that will lead to future success.

A KCBA Mentor of the Year will be announced at the April 9, 2026, New Lawyers Division Spring Soirée, sponsored by the New Lawyers Division. We’re all invited—and you should consider attending.

The evening gives us the opportunity to recognize a colleague who demonstrates, through action, deep respect for our profession and for the role that shared learning, skill development, and experience plays in helping lawyers become the best versions of themselves. Sharing knowledge helps all of us refine our professional paths. Talking with others about the challenges we face—and the career choices we’re navigating—often brings clarity and perspective.

Aren’t we fortunate in King County to benefit from the work of so many public servants and legal system participants striving to improve the lives of our community members? The efforts of so many in our community inspire me. Every day each of us makes a choice about what kind of community we are—giving to others, thinking of others and considering how our actions impact others. I’ve always loved being part of a profession, as opposed to simply reporting to a job. The law can be imperfect, but it also offers our greatest hope for stability and equality. I am grateful to be part of this community and to work alongside all of you to support and improve the rule of law.

Judge Averil Rothrock reflects on how to honor Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy through intentional action and describes how the Superior Court tackles systemic racism and embeds diversity, equity, and inclusion into its operations. She outlines what the court has done — including adopting trauma-informed practices and hiring a DEI program manager — to make sustained institutional change.

In this article, Presiding Judge Averil Rothrock introduces her aims and herself as the new presiding judge of King County Superior Court. Judge Rothrock describes how she views the responsibilities of court leadership, including administration, self-governance, and coordination with justice system partners. She also sets priorities through 2028, underscores the importance of judicial independence, and invites ongoing feedback from our community.

As we wind down the year and folks take well-earned leave during the holidays, for the Court it is a time of transition. We will have a new presiding judge, Judge Averil Rothrock, and a new assistant presiding, Judge Tanya Thorp.

As we are in the middle of harvest season and the Festival of Lights, I want to thank the King County Bar community for being partners with our court to improve accessibility to courts, championing the rule of law, and ensuring we work toward a more civil society. The work each of you does — from the mundane to the complex, from explaining court proceedings to your neighbors to zealously advocating your clients’ interests — is noteworthy. It is that passion for the rule of law that makes our society function.

As we enter the fall season, many law practices are ramping up to prepare trials and other matters to be completed before the end of the year. Our judges and staff are also preparing for the business of the fall season. Courts have the task of preparing for what comes in the door, creating systems that can handle the volume of cases that come forward for resolution. Our society depends on the systems the courts create to handle disputes that require resolution. Those types of disputes change over time. For example, what used to be tree-cutting arguments between neighbors are now disputes that are regulated by environmental statutes, land preservation statutes, and growth management principles.

A timeline can paradoxically seem both short and distant. How we perceive time and how that perception affects our work has a deep impact on the Court and the litigants.