Christy Anton Peters Named Local Hero by the Washington State Bar Association
SHELTON, Wash. (March 21, 2025) — The Washington State Bar Association today presented Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office Chief of Staff Christy Anton Peters with the Local Hero award in recognition of her mentorship and dedication to community service.
“We as lawyers and as fellow residents of Washington state are lucky to have people like Peters,” said WSBA President Sunitha Anjilvel. “A tireless mentor, educator, and community volunteer, Peters is an inspiration.”
The Local Hero award is presented to those who have made noteworthy contributions to their communities. Anjilvel presented the award at the March 21 meeting of WSBA’s Board of Governors in Shelton, WA. Peters was nominated by her husband, Thurston County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Donald R. “Rick” Peters Jr., and the Thurston County Bar Association.
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| Christy Anton Peters |
“It might seem unusual for a husband to nominate his wife for this type of an award, but I am uniquely qualified under the three criteria as a ‘friend,’ ‘colleague’ (we’ve worked in the same office for nearly 25 years), and ‘community member’ who has seen our area greatly enriched through Christy’s numerous contributions to it,” Peters Jr. said.
As chief of staff, a position Peters has held since 2011, she is the No. 2 attorney and responsible for nearly all of the office’s day-to-day operations, personnel issues, grant writing, intern hiring and training, and the myriad other daily operations of a large office. Peters previously worked on The Special Victims Team, “which is by far the most challenging unit in the office,” said Peters Jr.
Peters is recognized nationally as a trainer and mentor to her fellow attorneys, giving presentations on such topics as expert witness preparation, child victim interviewing and working with victim advocates. Peters has served as an instructor for the National District Attorney’s Association, educating other attorneys about child abuse, trial advocacy, pre-trial motions, cross examination, and more. She has also spoken before the National Organization of Legal Secretaries, Harborview Trauma Center, and the FBI.
Peters’ involvement in her community is almost too large to list. She has served roles with community organizations including, but far from limited to: Olympia School District, Downtown Olympia Rotary, Junior League of Olympia, Thurston County Bar Association, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Creative Theatre Experience Board, Washington State Criminal Justice Task Force focusing on Race and Prosecution 2.0, Olympia School District Education Foundation Board of Trustees, Nova Middle School Board, Olympia Youth Chorus Board, South Sound Reading Foundation Board, Family Support Center Board of Directors, Government Lawyers Bar Assoc. Board, and more.
About the Washington State Bar Association
The WSBA operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court and exercises a governmental function authorized by the Court to license and regulate the state’s nearly 40,000 legal professionals, including lawyers, limited practice officers, and limited license legal technicians. The WSBA both regulates legal professionals under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. The WSBA administers the Bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; administers the lawyer discipline system; and provides continuing legal education for legal professionals, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities. The Bar’s mission is to serve the public and its members, to ensure the integrity of the legal profession, and to champion justice.
