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.

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

Did you know? As a benefit of your KCBA NLD membership you have access to the KCBA CLE library! Whether an NLD attorney new to practice or a student member of the NLD you have access to hundreds of on demand CLE’s at great rates! This vast library of CLE material is sure to have a topic to pique your interest! In addition, CLE’s specifically sponsored by the NLD are free to NLD members. Check the KCBA NLD webpage for information about upcoming CLE’s offered to NLD members. We hope to see you there!

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.

KCBA’s Leadership Development & Nominations Committee is announcing its slate of candidates for the Board of Trustees, effective July 1. These introductions from the candidates are a great way to learn about them. Additional candidates may enter the race via the petition process in the bylaws, with a deadline of April 10. For more information, please contact Executive Director Kathleen Jensen by email (kathleenj@kcba.org) or phone (206.267.7053). If no petitions are received, the seven candidates will be considered elected. Thank you to the Committee for your recruitment work: Jennifer Payseno (Chair), Yvonne Chin, Stew Cogan, Robert Flennaugh II, Hon. Paris Kallas (Ret.), Eric Lansverk, Thomas Tobin, Shashi Vijay, and Lawrence Ward.

Symbols come in many forms. We encounter and assimilate them every day in ways that translate to life or death: a light at an intersection signals it is safe to walk across a car-filled street. A simple drawing in our new product’s packaging warns how to avoid serious injury to our loved ones. These and a million other daily signs and symbols are simple, powerful, and meaningful. They alter our view of reality, and we change our behavior because of them. We change our behavior. Because of them.

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.”
 

In 2018, the Washington legislature took a major step toward standardizing the law that applies to condominium associations, homeowners’ associations, and other common interest communities. The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (“WUCIOA”) became effective on July 1, 2018, and applied in full to all common interest communities created on or after that date. In 2028, the journey toward standardization will be complete when WUCIOA becomes applicable to all communities, regardless of when they were formed. That change may cause significant upheaval in communities unless they take action before the deadline.

A recent text from a friend tried to capture “all corporate jargon in one paragraph”:

“Let’s circle back and blue-sky this paradigm shift by leveraging our bandwidth to drill down on the low-hanging fruit, but only if we can move the needle without boiling the ocean. At the end of the day, we need to disrupt the synergy of our core competencies and pivot the deliverables into a thought-leadership ecosystem that aligns with our key performance vegetables.”

So much has happened in the last 30 days that impacts the entire community and requires attorneys and jurists to step up. There have been multiple complaints filed across the country seeking relief for those entitled to birthright citizenship and for court protection of funding previously approved and earmarked for all manner of public concerns—public safety, public health, environmental protection, and many other projects and programs. DOJ Prosecutors have chosen to resign, rather than take part in using that agency and their professional standing, to dismiss a multi-count case against New York’s Mayor Eric Adams—not based on evidence of criminal conduct, but because the mayor can better assist the Administration in implementing federal immigration policy if he is not distracted by criminal prosecution and potential incarceration.²