Opportunities for Service

2005 Notice of Board of Governors Election

Nomination deadline: March 1, 2005

Four positions on the WSBA Board of Governors will be up for election this year. These are the governors representing the 3rd, 6th, 7th-East*, and 8th Congressional Districts. These positions are currently held by Joni R. Kerr (3rd District), Howard L. Graham (6th District), Andrea Brenneke (7th-East District), and Randolph I. Gordon (8th District).

The WSBA Bylaws provide that any member in good standing, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may be nominated for the office of governor from the Congressional District (or geographical region within the 7th District*) in which such member is entitled to vote. Nominations are made by filing a statement of interest and a biographical statement of no more than 100 words.

Generally, members are entitled to vote in the congressional district in which the member resides. All out-of-state active WSBA members are eligible to vote in the district of the address of their agent within Washington for the purpose of receiving service of process as required by APR 5(e), or, if specifically designated to the executive director, within the district of their primary Washington practice.

Nomination forms are available from the Office of the Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; 206-727-8244; and on the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/info/bog/2005bogelections.htm. The WSBA executive director must receive nomination forms by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, 2005. The Board of Governors determines the official dates of the election. Ballots are mailed on April 15 and counted approximately May 15.

Note: The biographical statements of nominated candidates will be published in the May issue of Bar News.

*The 7th Congressional District is divided into three sub-districts, East, Central, and West. These sub-districts are distinguished by zip codes and each has one elected governor. For the coming year, the east sub-district (zip codes are 98028, 98055, 98105, 98115, 98118, 98122, 98125, 98129, 98144, 98145, 98155, 98178, and 98185) will elect a new governor.

Call for Applications for One of Two Board of Governors At-large Seats

Application deadline: March 1, 2005

To increase member representation on the Board of Governors, the WSBA Bylaws provide for two at-large seats. The full text of the Bylaws can be reviewed at www.wsba.org/bylaws. One of those seats is up for election to a three-year term commencing at the close of the annual meeting in September 2005.

Persons interested in filling an at-large position should submit a letter of application. The deadline for receipt of applications at the WSBA office is March 1, 2005. The Board of Governors will elect the at-large governor at its meeting on June 3, 2005. The application should include a statement addressing how the applicant feels he or she meets the intent specified in Article III, Section M. There is no intent that these seats are dedicated or rotationally filled by any one element of diversity or group of members.

(Excerpt from the WSBA Amended Bylaws, Article III, Section M)

M.ELECTION OF AT-LARGE GOVERNORS. Any active member of the Bar, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may apply for the office of At-Large Governor, except as provided in this Section. Filing of applications shall be in accordance with Section C of this Article.

At the regularly scheduled June meeting of the Board of Governors following the regular election of Governors from Congressional Districts, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, the Board of Governors shall elect additional Governors from the active membership at-large. Election may be by a secret written ballot. There shall be two at-large Governor positions to be filled with persons who, in the Board's sole discretion, have the experience and knowledge of the needs of those lawyers whose membership is or may be historically under-represented in governance, or who represent some of the diverse elements of the public of the State of Washington, to the end that the Board of Governors will be a more diverse and representative body than the results of the election of Governors based solely on Congressional districts may allow. Under-representation and diversity may be based upon the discretionary determination of the Board of Governors at the time of the election of any at-large Governor to include, but not be limited to, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, diversity, geography, areas and types of practice, and years of membership, provided that no single factor shall be determinative.

Members interested in an at-large position on the Board of Governors should submit a letter of application and résumé to the Office of the Executive Director, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; oed@wsba.org.
 
Statute Law Committee — Two Positions

Application deadline: February 18, 2005

The WSBA Board of Governors is accepting letters of interest and résumés from members interested in serving a six-year term on the Statute Law Committee (which oversees the operation of the Office of the Code Reviser), commencing April 1, 2005. A written expression of interest and résumé are also required for incumbents seeking reappointment.

This 12-member committee of lawyers seeks to foster accurate publication of laws and agency rules services in a professional and strictly nonpartisan and cost-effective manner. The primary responsibilities are to periodically codify, index, and publish the Revised Code of Washington; and to revise, correct, and harmonize the statutes of administrative or suggested legislative action as may be appropriate. The committee meets at least twice a year.

Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to Bar Leaders Division, WSBA, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, -Seattle, WA 98121-2330; or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org.

YMCA Mock Trial Program Seeks Volunteers

The YMCA Youth & Government Mock Trial program allows high school students to participate in a "true-to-life" courtroom drama. Each team of attorneys and witnesses prepares the case for trial before a real judge in an actual courtroom. A "jury" of attorneys rates teams on their presentations, while the presiding judge rules on the motions, objections, and ultimately the merits. Participants develop critical thinking and analytical skills, learn the art of oral advocacy, and gain a respect for the rule of law and the judiciary.

The state championship competitions will be held Friday, March 18, through Sunday, March 20, 2005, at the Thurston County Courthouse in Olympia. Attorney volunteers are needed. To volunteer, please contact Janelle Nesbit at 360-357-3475 or youthandgovexec@qwest.net. Please visit www.youthandgovernment.org for additional details.

Judicial Recommendation Interviews

Application deadline: February 11, 2005

The WSBA Judicial Recommendation Committee is currently accepting applications from attorneys and judges seeking consideration for appointment to fill potential Appellate and Supreme Court vacancies. Interested candidates will be interviewed by the committee in March 2005. The deadline for receipt of questionnaires by the WSBA office is 5 p.m. February 11, 2005.

The committee's recommendations are reviewed by the WSBA Board of Governors and then referred to the Governor for review when appointments are made to fill vacancies on the Washington Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

If you are interested in scheduling an interview, please contact the WSBA at 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330, 206-727-8239; or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org, to obtain a questionnaire. Please specify whether you need the questionnaire designed for a judge or an attorney.