At the WSBA, September is one of our favorite times of year, and not just because it’s pumpkin spice season. Because this is the time of year when we get to celebrate some of the best of the best legal professionals in Washington.
The Acknowledging Professional Excellence (APEX) Awards were created to recognize excellence in the legal profession—honoring the kindness and bravery that WSBA members bring to their work, their clients, and their communities. As in years past, this year’s winners, who won awards across 11 categories, truly exemplify the dedication and integrity that legal professionals can bring to the table in Washington. In the new issue of Washington State Bar News, we have all their stories. Read our coverage of the APEX Award winners to learn about: a Washington Supreme Court justice who has helped redefine leadership through mentorship, curiosity, and a steadfast commitment to justice; an attorney who led a groundbreaking appellate case that strengthened protections for survivors of sexual violence; a judge who represents the highest ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession; and many more.
Also in this issue, Professor Robert C. Boruchowitz speaks to the ongoing crisis in public defense. Boruchowitz breaks down statewide changes to public defender caseloads and funding shortfalls that continue to impact Washington’s ability to provide indigent criminal defense services.
“Washington has exceptional public defenders,” writes Boruchowitz. “Yet high demand and high caseloads, combined with inadequate funding, threaten the quality of representation defendants receive and create inconsistencies in convictions and sentencing across the state.”
In this issue, you will also find a variety of features and columns on topics such as: the latest findings by the WSBA’s Well-Being Task Force work groups; the implications of Engrossed House Bill 2445, a major legislative update to Washington’s Title 11 probate laws designed to curb predatory third-party estate administration scheme practices; how to cite GenAI based on the ALWD Guide to Legal Citation 8th edition; what lawyers should know about the fundamental tension between legal procedure and scientific methodology; what happened with the summer bar exam and what the WSBA is doing going forward; the uses and limits on conflicts counsel as a practice management tool; and more.
