Every day I count myself lucky that I am living in Washington state where there are so many wonderful organizations doing their best to ensure that pro-se litigants have access to resources that help them successfully navigate their cases. Being in King County, I am particularly grateful to Kristina Ralls and the King County Family Law Facilitators program for creating concise and easily accessible form packets for those dealing with family law issues. You can see the breadth of their handiwork at their How-to Resources for Family Law page. In addition to their web presence, the facilitators also run a walk-in Family Law Helpdesk in both the Seattle and Kent courthouses from 9 a.m. to noon every day. At the helpdesk, after a short consultation, patrons are given forms and instructions responsive to their legal issues. As you might guess, the helpdesks are very busy. They lack the capacity to assist people with drafting their forms.

Two interesting cases highlight the apparent difficulty of valuing cases these days. In one, the plaintiff refused to accept any settlement below $10 million, confident their client’s injuries along with what they believed would be considerable frustration with the defendant would get them at least as much at trial. The defendant’s insurance carrier disagreed. They were willing to offer low seven figures (which the plaintiff declined), but nothing close to $10 million, and the plaintiff’s demand left them no choice but to go to trial. After two weeks, the jury came back with a defense verdict.

Dedicated Always Appealing readers will remember an article I wrote nearly three years ago about an amendment to RAP 10.8, the rule allowing parties to submit a statement of additional authorities. The old rule prohibited any argument, so submitting additional authority typically meant providing a case citation with a short reference to the relevant legal issue and nothing else. Sometimes, courts received citations without any explanation at all.¹

The annual KCBA Bench Bar Conference was held on Nov. 11 at the Seattle Convention Center. This year’s planning committee consisted of Judge Ketu Shah, Katie Comstock, Lindsay Caulkins, Jacob Roes, and KCBA President Sidney Tribe. The committee aimed to bring attention to recent and ongoing attacks on the rule of law by focusing several of the judges’ panels and other sessions on the topic.

I’ve devoted my career to helping underserved and vulnerable communities. During the first Trump administration, I volunteered with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. I took a pro bono asylum case for an unaccompanied minor from Central America. I assisted that young man over many years, and when he finally received his green card, I felt so relieved for him.

Success can mean living up to achievement and productivity, which are both worthy goals. But this year, my personal challenge is to redefine success as aligning with personal values and allowing space for growth without burnout.

Al Davis shows why turnaround expertise should not be reserved for businesses in crisis, but rather used proactively to strengthen companies of all sizes and industries. Davis contends that the same disciplines used in restructurings are essential in today’s volatile economic environment. By applying these practices, companies can reduce risk, improve liquidity, and avoid being pushed into distress by market or regulatory shocks.

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.

Mei Shih​ helpfully and humorously reflects on making personal and professional connections in Seattle despite the city’s reputation for social distance. Drawing on her experience relocating multiple times, Shih emphasizes taking initiative, showing up consistently, and embracing authenticity to create lasting community. She offers small steps that can turn isolation into belonging.
 

Kathleen Jensen, our wonderful Executive Director, wrote her column for this month trumpeting KCBA’s good work in 2025. Please don’t miss her piece, where you can read about all of the incredible achievements your membership has supported.

For this 2025 review, I’d like to focus specifically on KCBA’s appellate efforts. Although KCBA lawyers’ arguments did not always prevail, that is not the point. Theirs is the fight to develop the law in a positive direction and lend a voice to important issues. Their work is crucial.