This month’s column addresses the trial court’s obligation after a party files a notice of appeal to consider a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law under CR 50, a motion to amend findings under CR 52(b), or a motion for new trial under CR 59, as well as a motion to vacate or modify a judgment under CR 60.1

Authors Elizabeth Yina Finch and Kim Schnuelle examine how separate property can be transmuted into community property through intent, particularly the evidentiary role of quitclaim deeds and extrinsic evidence. Drawing on Marriage of Watanabe (2022) and Matter of Milles (2024), the authors highlight how Washington courts analyze not only the form of a property transfer but also the circumstances, including the parties’ conduct, statements, and prior dealings. Practitioners must scrutinize the deed language and the broader context to assess whether a transmutation occurred.

On April 11, 2025, the KCBA presented a free CLE: Immigrant Family Safety Planning and Minor Guardianship. The training drew over 150 legal professionals and focused on strategies to support immigrant families in preparing for the care of children in the event that a parent is detained or deported.

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. 

A big thank you to everyone who attended this year’s New Lawyers Division Spring Soirée on March 27! It was a blooming success!

We received a wonderful book donation to the law library the other day. Washington’s Historical Courthouses is a fascinating pictorial journey into Washington’s legal history through the lens of the state’s county courthouses. Author Ray Graves practiced law for over 50 years, primarily in Tacoma. But during his long career, he had occasion to appear in nearly half of Washington’s 39 county courthouses.

Dining columnist Christopher Howard presents an insightful tour of restaurants. A lauded Napa restaurant shined during its robust course. Then one of two French bistros was a clear favorite, with elevated fare in a lively setting. Further north, a Geyserville staple impressed with unpretentious but memorable Italian eats, including a standout bread.

As legal professionals, we are experiencing a confluence of events that are testing the bounds of the rule of law. Some law firms are being pressured to make choices about who they represent and what access they will have. There are judges’ orders that are being attacked for their independence. And finally, we are seeing extreme vitriol towards people who disagree with each other.

The following are highlights from the KCBA Board of Trustees meeting held on March 19, 2025, convened by KCBA President Erin Overbey.

Law Day, held each year on May 1, and designated as such by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the late 1950s, highlights the law’s role in our country and society. This is a great opportunity to help our communities understand how the law protects liberty and freedom, allows the legal profession to help dispel misinformation and polarization, and helps foster an environment where citizens take an active interest in the law.