Patrick O’Connor Named Local Hero by the Washington State Bar Association | Sept. 6, 2024
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Sept. 6, 2024) — The Washington State Bar Association today presented Thurston County public defender Patrick O’Connor with the Local Hero award in recognition of his leadership and selfless volunteering.
“Patrick O’Connor is a leader and committed member of his community, who distinguishes himself as an example of what we call a Local Hero,” said WSBA President Sunitha Anjilvel. “His dedication to defending those who cannot afford an attorney and his commitment to diversity and equity reflect our highest values at the Washington State Bar Association.”
The Local Hero award is presented to those who have made noteworthy contributions to their communities. Anjilvel presented O’Connor with the award during the Sept. 6 meeting of WSBA’s Board of Governors in Olympia, Wash. O’Connor’s colleagues at the Government Lawyers Bar Association nominated him for the award.
“Patrick O’Connor truly goes above and beyond for his community and is well-deserving of the Local Hero Award,” wrote Matt Huot, immediate past president of the Government Lawyers Bar Association, in nominating O’Connor. “Patrick has navigated (Thurston County Public Defense) through difficult times, including but not limited to the office’s adjustment to the Blake decision, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing strain put on public defense agencies given high caseloads and limited resources.”
Since 2017, O’Connor has served as the appointed director of Thurston County Public Defense, a 30-attorney department responsible for providing legal representation to indigent residents facing criminal charges in Thurston County. Huot said O’Connor has remained undaunted in his commitment to serving his community. He was instrumental in developing the Thurston County Resource Hub, a drop-in resource center at the Thurston County Courthouse for people with behavioral health needs who are impacted by the justice system.
He regularly appears at community events to discuss current issues concerning policing, restorative justice, and public defense administration as a critical government service, Huot added. In April, during a panel discussion among local leaders sponsored by the League of Women Voters, O’Connor shared his ardent views on diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial belonging. He described how public defenders are a critical component to any community that strives to ensure their citizens have access to justice in a manner that reflects their values.
O’Connor serves as president-elect of the Washington Defender Association and is a former board member and secretary of the Thurston County Bar Association.
He has volunteered as a coach with Capitol Little League and is a former board member of the Thurston County Food Bank. He lives in Olympia with his wife, attorney Grace O’Connor, and their two sons.
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.
