Speak Up for Justice, Washington!
Speak Up for Justice, Washington!
Speak Up for Justice Washington! is partnering with county bars, which will host events throughout the state eligible for 1.5 CLE credits. See below for a list of upcoming dates and locations; we will continually update the list as more events are confirmed. For more information, please contact ambassadors@wsba.org
Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Everett at noon
Hosted by: Snohomish County Bar Association.
Location: Snohomish County Health District Auditorium, 3020 Rucker Ave. in Everett
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and Snohomish County Superior Court judges Patrick M. Moriarty, Paul W. Thompson and Richard T. Okrent
Wednesday, Dec. 17, in Richland at noon
Hosted by: Benton-Franklin Counties Bar Association.
Location: Meadow Springs Country Club, 700 Country Club Road in Richland
Featuring: Hon. Robert S. Lasnik of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Patrick M. Moriarty
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Wenatchee at noon
Hosted by: Chelan-Douglas Bar Association
Location: Pybus Public Market, 3 N. Worthen St. in Wenatchee
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and Chelan County Superior Court Kristin Ferrera
Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Vancouver, WA, at noon
Hosted by: Clark County Bar Association
Location: AC Hotel by Marriott on the Vancouver Waterfront.
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Wednesday, March 11, in Tacoma at 5:30 p.m.
Hosted by: Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association
Location: University of Washington Tacoma, Milgard Hall, Room 110, 1950 South C St. in Tacoma
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Sabrina M. Ahrens, and Tacoma Municipal Court Judge Steven J. Krupa
Register to attend.
Friday, March 27, in Yakima at noon
Hosted by: Yakima County Bar Association.
Location: Yakima County Superior Court, 128 N. Second St. in Yakima
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and, Yakima County Superior Court Judge Sonia Rodriguez-True, and Washington State Court of Appeals Judge Michael Diaz
Register to attend.
Friday, April 10, in Spokane at 4 p.m.
Hosted by: Spokane County Bar Association
Location: the John J. Hemmingson Center, Gonzaga University, 702 E. Desmet Ave. in Spokane
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and Spokane Superior Court judges Tony Hazel and Breean L. Beggs, Spokane Count Municipal Court judges Mary C. Logan and Gloria Ochoa-Bruck, and Spokane County Municipal Court Commissioner Deanna K. Crull, secretary of Northwest Tribal Court Judges Association
Registration to come.
Tuesday, April 14, in Seattle at 3:30 p.m.
Hosted by: King County Bar Association
Location: Washington State Bar Association, 1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 600, in Seattle
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour and Hon. Robert S. Lasnik of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Shaw
Registration to come.
Wednesday, April 15, in Mount Vernon at noon
Hosted by: Skagit County Bar Association,
Location: Mount Vernon Public Library, 208 W. Kincaid St. in Mount Vernon
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour and Hon. Robert S. Lasnik of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Registration to come.
Friday, April 24, in Olympia at 11:30 a.m.
Hosted by: Thurston County Bar Association
Location: Tugboat Annies, 2100 Westbay Drive NW in Olympia
Featuring: Washington Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Indu Thomas, and Thurston County District Court Judge Brett Buckley
Register to attend.
Friday, May 15 (tent.) in South Bend at 11 a.m.
Hosted by: Pacific County Bar Association
Location: Pacific County Superior Court, 300 Memorial Drive in South Bend
Featuring: TBD
Registration to come.
Monday, May 18, in Bellingham, time TBD
Hosted by: Whatcom County Bar Association
Location: Bellingham Yacht Club, 2625 S Harbor Loop Drive in Bellingham
Featuring: Hon. John C. Coughenour of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Whatcom County District Court Judge Angela Anderson, and Whatcom County Superior Court judges Jennifer E. Slattery and David E. Freeman
Registration to come.
Tuesday, May 19, in Port Townsend at noon
Hosted by: Jefferson County Bar Association
Location: Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St. in Port Townsend
Featuring: TBD
Registration to come.
The rule of law and independence of the judiciary are hallmarks of our constitutional democracy. Recently, judges throughout Washington and the nation have sounded the alarm: By doing their jobs in accordance with and in support of these basic principles, they have become targets of unprecedented levels of violence and threats of violence. Misinformation continues to spread, and public trust and confidence in the legal system, as well as many other foundational U.S. institutions, are at a crisis point.
What to do? The WSBA’s Rule of Law Ambassador Program would like to help legal professionals learn more about the urgency of the situation and to feel empowered to speak up in their communities to counter misinformation and build relationships to support their court systems. We are launching a touring CLE called Speak Up for Justice Washington! to do just that. A panel of federal, state, and local judges will share their experiences and then ambassador leaders will provide resources and training on effective ways to speak up and out for the rule of law.
Overall, we want every legal professional to be ready, in their sphere of influence, to lower the violent rhetoric, to educate about the importance of an independent judiciary as a cornerstone of democracy, and to make it safer for all legal professionals to do their jobs now … and into the future. This aligns with the Rule of Law Ambassador Program’s mission, which is to help legal professionals spread education, civic engagement, and trust and confidence in our legal system, which are core responsibilities and roles for both individual lawyers and the WSBA.
In the News
WSBA President, Executive Director send call to uphold rule of law amid immigration actions in Minneapolis.
Federal judges warn of rise in threats and harassment.
Board of Governors signs on to ABA statement in support of the rule of law.
Board of Governors issues statement supporting legal professionals' obligation to represent without fear of retribution.
A Message of Solidarity from the Bench
As part of a national Speak Up for Justice movement, Western-Washington federal judges Hon. Robert Lasnik and Hon. John Coughenour shared their recent experiences receiving violent threats and actions, both to themselves personally and their families. Watch that recorded panel for a preview of the Washington-specific tour. Judge Lasnik and Judge Coughenour spearheaded our grassroots campaign and will be staples of our panels, with local judges joining them at each event.
Interested in a tour stop in your area of the state? Want to learn more? Contact ambassadors@wsba.org.
