As our country’s presidential candidates offer divergent promises to protect our constitutional freedoms, one segment of America remains categorically excluded from any such promises.

My friend and colleague, Judge Kristin Richardson, has quietly and humbly served us well in her public service career both in the King County Prosecutor’s Office for 29 years and on the King County Superior Court bench since 2017. 

An anonymous letter highly critical of Judge Debora Juarez was published in the September 1995 issue of the Bar Bulletin.

In 2017, Yale professor, Timothy Synder, published “On Tyranny. Twenty Lessons From The Twentieth Century.” In that book, he wrote about the rule of law and how it is hard to subvert the rule of law without lawyers.

A recent Washington Supreme Court ruling has major implications for physician errors that harm patients, making Washington one of the only states to prevent hospitals from avoiding responsibility for medical errors when they choose to staff their emergency rooms with physicians who are independent contractors rather than hiring them as employees This closes a significant loophole in the law and marks a significant step forward for accountability and patient safety.

There have been plenty of post-Covid openings and we certainly have not been able to get to them all. This month we are trying to catch up on that, at least a little. And, as our exploration continued, this edition ended up with a post-Spanish Empire theme.

On October 14, 2024, King County will celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. King County Superior Court recognizes that we provide service to a community, populated by residents from a rich variety of cultures and lived experiences. In recognition of this holiday marked by reflection and service, we wanted to take the opportunity to share with the Bar the significant work the Court is undertaking to improve and coordinate our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The KCBA Board of Trustees held their first Board meeting of the 2024–2025 fiscal year on August 21, 2024. After President Erin Overbey called the meeting to order and welcomed the Board and guest, Housing Justice Project (“HJP”) Transition Administrator Lisa Stone, the Board approved the meeting minutes from the Board meeting on June 21, 2024, and the Board retreat on July 17, 2024.

October is recognized as a month for raising awareness of and celebrating people with special needs and disabilities. Those special needs or disabilities might be visible or invisible. Having family members with disabilities has made me aware of how living with one or more disabilities affects not only that person but profoundly impacts others within that family. It also provides a great reminder that being able-bodied is only temporary and that special needs and disability-focused communities provide a lot of support to individuals and their families.

Office Space

For rent: North Seattle law office, 35th Avenue NE. Reception/paralegal area, four offices, conference room with law books, library area, kitchen/copier room, two bathrooms, deck overlooking neighborhood, parking, no steps. Largely furnished. 1450 SF, possible additional space. Close to restaurants and businesses of Wedgwood. Excellent location, easy for clients. (206) 371-7037.