Welcome to the inaugural digital version of TCBA's Legal Brief. We hope you will become comfortable with this digital version as we trial this during the next year. The purpose of this transition is three-fold. One, we hope this platform provides a more interactive experience for our members; two, we hope to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing paper use; and three, we hope to reduce the association's overhead costs. We welcome your feedback. Please reach out to any of your board members with questions, concerns and suggestions.
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THE LEGAL BRIEF
A Publication of the Thurston County Bar Association
President’s Message By: Wayne Graham
As the leaves start to change their color, and unfortunately fall too soon, the days get shorter, the nights get colder and the rain begins, we sadly say good - bye to summer. We ask where did the time go? I have so many other projects, vacations, etc., that I needed to enjoy and get done, but mother nature had other plans. The year is coming to a close and as we hunker down for the next six months, we might start to focus on what we want to accomplish as an association next year. In that vein, we have our Thurston County Bar Board annual retreat at the end of October where that question is exactly what we hope to answer. If you have ideas, concerns, or suggestions, please reach out and let us know so we can talk about them and hopefully propose solutions. Our e - mail is tcba.info@gmail.com. We welcome the communication. As a Board, we continue to strive to provide the services and support to our Bar members that they want and need. Our monthly lunchtime CLE ’ s are an example as we are always open to new topics or speakers that would be of interest to you, as well as a nice lunch on the water. The Bar/Bench lunch is scheduled for November 15 th up at the Courthouse Complex, over in Building One, Room 152 so we hope to see you there. To close out the year we have our Annual TCBA Holiday lunch on December 8, 2023, at the Olympia Golf and Country Club. We are also in the process of developing a half - day Ethics CLE to be presented this Spring focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and as that will soon be a requirement from the WSBA for our continued licensing obligations. Stay tuned. One of the Board ’ s major goals for this upcoming year is the recruit- ment of new attorneys to our Bar Association. Not just newer bar numbers, but new attorneys. We are strongest when we have varied viewpoints, experiences and ideologies to share amongst each other. Like many associations, we have, unfortunately, seen a decline in our membership numbers as older attorneys have retired, although some of you stay involved, so Thank You. But a number of other attorneys have left the area, left the practice of law or have so enjoyed working from home during COVID that they never leave their house. In any event, we are committed to showing non - members the benefits of being involved in your local bar association and are open to any and all suggestions on how to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the Thurston County legal world.
Inside this issue:
President’s Message
1 2
Meet your Board
View From the Bench
4, 5, 7
Classifieds/Ads Misc Updates and Announcements/Invites
3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
Young Lawyer’s Spotlight: Celia Lesh
8
10
Washington State Law Library Article
Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
12
Section Updates
14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Swearing-in Ceremony
19
“In Re”: Cindy Gaddis
22, 23
Letter from TCBA Member, Gary Preble, regarding TCLCR 56(c)(1)
28, 29, 30
Please have a safe and wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Adopt-A-Family Information 31
TCBA Holiday Lunch Flyer 32
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Board Members 2023-2024
Wayne Graham President
John Kesler III President Elect
Brandon Koenig Treasurer
Michael Young Past President
Melissa Goldmann Secretary
William B. Pope Board Member
Angela Colaiuta Board Member
Matt Huot Board Member
Rosemary Fitzgerald Board Member
Jerry Gray Board Member
Marie Docter Board Member
Joseph Scuderi Board Member
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THANK YOU to the TCBA members who volunteered for the 30th Annual United Way Day of Caring in Thurston County! Judge Anne Hirsch (Ret.), Jay Goldstein, Cece Clynch, Faith Foote, Marie Docter, Ronda Larson - Kramer, and Heather Ligtenberg volunteered at All Kids Win and filled 750 bags with food that will be given to kids to eat on the weekends. We had a lot of fun and worked hard for a great cause! If you are interested in participating, United Way Day of Caring https://www.unitedway - thurston.org/day - caring
All Kids Win https://allkidswin.org/
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A View From The Bench
By Chief Judge Rebecca Glasgow Court of Appeals, Division Two
In 2021, Washington ’ s Gender and Justice Commission conducted a study of bias in Washington courts and we published a report entitled How Gender and Race Affect Justice Now. The study, led by Washington Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud and Dr. Dana Raigrodski of the University of Washington, considered topics that the Commission had evaluated in its first landmark study of bias in Washington courts in 1989, and the Commission added several more topics for its 2021 study. As a current co - chair of the Gender and Justice Commission with Justice Gordon McCloud, I want to take this opportunity to tell you a bit more about the study and some of its recommendations. The following is a brief summary of some key highlights, but I invite you to check out any chapter of the study that interests you. https://www.courts.wa.gov/ subsite/gjc/documents/2021_Gender_Justice_Study_Report.pdf Washington has a long history of bias and exclusion in our state court system. 1 Beginning at statehood, Washington law officially excluded women, Black people, Native Americans, and others from full participation in the courts. For example, we excluded these groups from jury service and often refused to provide a legal remedy for harms that particularly affect women, such as rape. Even after official, legally sanctioned exclusion ended, it remained the rule in practice. And bias remained especially apparent for Black, Indigenous, and other women of color. In 1989, Washington ’ s predecessor to the Gender and Justice Commission conducted a study of the historical exclusion and devaluation of women in Washington courts, the first study of this kind in the nation. The Washington Legislature funded the 1989 study, which focused on “ gendered ” areas of the law, concluded that the courts were biased against women, and made recommendations for change. The Washington Supreme Court established a permanent Gender and Justice Commission to continue this important work. More than 30 years later, the Gender and Justice Commission began a follow - up study. This time, we focused on multiple topics related to Washington courts, such as access to the courts, navigating the court system, user fees, legal financial obligations, bail, trials, and sentencings, all of which can have different impacts depending on a person ’ s gender. Ours was one of the first such follow - up studies in the nation. We benefitted from the work of hundreds of lawyers, judges, law students, social scientists, and community groups, and we came to terms with critical review by experts from multiple disciplines and all branches of government. First, the data shows that there have been several major changes for the better over the last 30 years. The Washington Legislature has changed laws concerning domestic violence, commercial sexual exploitation, and marriage dissolutions; the people have changed the law on marriage equality; prosecutors ’ offices have changed their approach to domestic violence and sexual assault; judicial education on gender and race bias has dramatically increased, and rules for lawyers and judges about treating women and other populations with respect have been adopted; and the diversity of the bench has grown. But other gender - based disparities remain or have increased. And these gender disparities have their harshest impacts on Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community. There were several findings that are unsurprising. Overall, the data shows that gender still affects justice system outcomes. And in general, in Washington, Black, Indigenous, and other women of color suffered more from unequal treatment and outcomes than did white women. For example: • The costs of accessing Washington courts—such as user fees, childcare, and lawyers— create barriers. This has the greatest impact on single mothers; Black, Indigenous, and other women of color; LGBTQ+ people; and those with disabilities. _________________________________________________
1 This summary of key findings is adapted from the introduction to the study written by Justice Gordon McCloud and Dr. Raigrodski.
(Continued on next page)
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(Continued from Page 4) View from the Bench by Chief Judge Rebecca Glasgow
• Lack of affordable childcare limits the ability of low - income women to get to court, underscoring the need for flexible court schedules and online access to court. Caregiving also impacts the ability of women to serve on juries and results in women being excused for hardship more often than men. Women were more likely than men to say that in - court childcare program improved their access to the courts. Childcare centers connected to the courts could have a larger impact with increased capacity and outreach.
• Lack of court interpreters and lack of translated materials are particularly concerning for those seeking protection from domestic violence, including immigrant women and families.
• Despite improvements in the law and its enforcement, barriers to justice remain for victims of gender - based violence. The large numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people remain a key concern.
• The justice system ’ s response to commercial sexual exploitation has greatly improved but still treats many in the sex industry, including exploited populations, as criminals.
• Jail and prison programs and policies are developed for men and often do not meet the needs of women or transgender and gender - nonconforming people.
• Incarcerated mothers are more likely than fathers to be primary caregivers. Mothers are thus more likely to lose their children to out - of - home care during their incarceration.
• Racial disparities in arrests negatively influence pretrial bail decisions, which in turn influence plea deals, affect charging decisions, and create a higher likelihood of incarceration and longer sentences for both men and women of color. • There is little data on the gender impacts of legal financial obligations (LFOs). The available research suggests that while men face higher LFOs, women face greater challenges trying to pay both their own LFOs and those of people close to them.
• Black, Indigenous, and other women of color are underrepresented in Washington juries.
There were other findings that were surprising or alarming (at least to me), for example:
• The law requiring mandatory arrests in domestic violence cases may have unintended adverse effects on women, people of color, immigrants, those living in poverty, and LGBTQ+ people.
• Black, Indigenous, and other women of color are convicted and sentenced at rates two to eight times higher than white women.
• A 2021 workplace survey of employees in Washington courts, superior court clerks ’ offices, and judicial branch agencies asking about instances of harassment in the prior 18 months, found that court/judicial branch agency employees reported workplace harassment at alarmingly high rates: employees who identified as American Indian, Alaska Native, First Nations, or other Indigenous Group Member (86%), bisexual (84%), gay or lesbian (73%), and women (62%). More than half of all court/judicial branch agency employees statewide experienced harassment in the workplace in the 18 months before they answered the survey. • The number of women incarcerated in Washington grew exponentially and largely in the shadows between 1980 and 2000. Their numbers continue to increase while the very high incarceration rates for men decrease. In addition to sixteen chapters that engaged in deep analysis of topics related to these findings, the Commission adopted five overarching goals and dozens of specific recommendations that flowed from the study findings. The overarching goals include:
• Improving data collection so that we can have a more accurate picture of how gender and race affect outcomes in Washington courts.
(Continued on page 7)
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Looking for a new job opportunity or do you want to advertise a job opportunity at your law firm? Check out the Employment Opportunities page on the TCBA website, www.thurstoncountybar.com
There is no charge to post legal job opportunities.
Email Heather at tcba.info@gmail.com for more information.
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(Continued from page 5) View from the Bench by Chief Judge Rebecca Glasgow
• Improving access to the courts by expanding remote access, adopting more flexible hours, increasing access to legal help, reducing communication barriers, and ensuring that courts treat all court users in a trauma - responsive manner. • Addressing the increase in conviction rates and incarceration length for women, especially Black, Indigenous, and other women of color, and remedying the consequences that the increased incarceration of Black, Indigenous, and other men of color has had on women and other family members.
• Reducing reliance on revenue from court users to fund the courts.
• Identifying the best evidence - based curricula for judicial and legal education on gender and race bias.
In sum, there is much work to be done to achieve the promise of a justice system that provides fair and equal treatment to everyone who appears in Washington courts. If you are interested in helping with implementing the study recommendations, please reach out to me at J_R.Glasgow@courts.wa.gov. We would be delighted to have you join the Gender and Justice Commission ’ s efforts.
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Young Lawyer Spotlight By Devin Kohr, Young Lawyer Section Chair
Celia L. R. Lesh
WSBA #60083
I grew up in … I was born in Abbotsford, Canada, so clearly my parents did not think that I should be a candidate for US Presidency (I say this in jest). I have always lived in the U.S., and I grew up just north of Bellingham, WA, close to the Canadian border. Before Law School I... Started a subsidiary e - commerce company that sourced and sold coconut oil from Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic. One main goal of this company was to give back a percentage of the earnings to the coconut farmers in the Dominican Republic. For every X - number of jars sold, a humble house would be built for a family in the Dominican Republic. I left the company after establishing the supply chain because I wanted to re - focus my career on my passion for law. Had a social life (again, I say this in jest). What I find challenging about being a new/young lawyer is … Being exposed to the injustices of our criminal system on a daily basis. For example, the dichotomy between our constitutional right to the presumption of innocence and the fact that individuals are held in - custody, without bail, while their cases are in the pre - trial, predetermination of guilt or innocence, stage. Managing to not blame myself when my clients are penalized for their actions. Some helpful advice received from a more experienced lawyer …. ‘ ALWAYS be kind to the court clerks. It is the judges who get the attention, but it is the clerks who get things done. ’ and “ It is not the ‘ criminal justice system, ’ it is the ‘ criminal system. ’”
If I wasn ’ t an attorney I ’ d be … A psychologist with questionable skill.
The most memorable trip I ever took was … A month - long sailing trip, with my sister, on a 24 foot sailboat that my father built many years ago. My sister and I sailed from Bellingham, WA, up into Canada, and, for over a week and a half, did not step foot on land.
My wellness routine includes... Painting small rocks, with encouraging notes, and leaving them in local parks for anyone who comes across them.
Nobody would ever suspect that I … Ride a motorcycle (2021 Ninja 650)!
If you would like to be featured in the Young Lawyer Spotlight or know someone you would like your fellow lawyers to get to know, email Devin Kohr at dkohr@bgwp.net
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News from the Washington State Law Library
New to the Law Library Collection: Books for Legal Professionals Recently on the library blog, we introduced a lineup of new titles particularly for legal professionals. From the post written by reference librarian Wanda Barrett: Many of our patrons share an interest in legal writing and the language of court opinions, especially law clerks and others working with the judiciary who may enjoy such books as Just Words: Law, Language, and Power, Third Edition (Chicago Series in Law and Society) by John Conley , Making the Case: The Art of the Judicial Opinion by Paul Kahn, and The (Not Too Serious) Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Guide to Legal Writing by Diana Simon. Much has been written about another of our new books, Professor Erwin Chemerinsky ’ s Worse than Nothing: The Dangerous Fallacy of Originalism . Our new books also include several titles about the courts. For a deep dive into judicial philosophy, consider reading our new books about The Chevron Doctrine or The Shadow Docket. For attorneys and paralegals, we have added two books on law practice and law office automation, The Lawyer ’ s Guide to Office Automation: Tools and Strategies to Improve Your Firm and Your Life and Design Your Law Practice . Senior trial paralegal Candess Zona - Mendola ’ s book The Indispensable Paralegal: Your Guide to Getting it Done is a great resource for the paralegal looking for practice pointers, career advice, and professional resources. New and seasoned attorneys may also want to read about mental health impacts on both clients and legal professionals. Trauma - informed Law: A Primer for Lawyer Resilience and Healing focuses on understanding past experiences versus faulting the individual, and using that awareness to adopt a trauma - focused practice. Two clinical psychologists with law degrees discuss both the stress surrounding and the empathy lacking within the legal field in The Wounded Attorney: How Psychological Disorders Impact Attorneys . The authors review the actions taken in attorney discipline cases involving mental health. They also provide examples for expanding empathy in law schools and legal organizations. For additional mental health resources, read our blog post on Mental Health: Resources for Those in Crisis. (https://medium.com/walawlibrary/mental - health - resources - for - those - in - crisis - 1f41d99bd57a) . To read the rest of this post, which includes links to all of the mentioned titles, please click here: https://medium.com/walawlibrary/new - to - the - collection - books - for - legal - professionals - 1886c39c13d9
Law Library Trainings Available
Are you looking to sharpen your legal research skills? Would you like to learn more about a legal topic and how to find the print and online tools to go with it? We ’ ve got you covered. The law library offers in person and remote training for legal professionals in a variety of topics. If you ’ re interested in learning more, please contact State Law Librarian Rob Mead at rob.mead@courts.wa.gov,
In - Person Research Service Available
The State Law Library is open for in - person research services, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at our Tumwater location. Our space does look much different from the Temple of Justice and our walk - in services are modified to fit our new (smaller) space, so you are strongly encouraged to review our updated website to help plan your visit: https://www.courts.wa.gov/library/. Please contact the Reference Desk at library.requests@courts.wa.gov or 360 - 357 - 2136 if you have any questions.
Follow us on Social Media
Be the first to know about what ’ s happening at the State Law Library. For service updates, special events happening in the legal world, new blog posts and even a cheeky post or two from the reference staff, follow us on these platforms: Twitter (@walawlibrary); Facebook (@walawlibrary) and Linkedin.
https://www.facebook.com/walawlibrary/ https://twitter.com/walawlibrary https://www.linkedin.com/company/washington - state - law - library
We look forward to seeing you and assisting you with your legal research.
Upcoming Holiday Closures WSLL will be closed on the following holidays:
November 10th: Veterans Day Nov. 23 - 24: Thanksgiving and Native
American Heritage Day Dec. 25: Christmas Day Jan. 1: New Year ’ s Day
The law library research room at Town Center 3 in Tumwater.
Contributed by Washington State Law Library reference staff.
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Please help support legal organizations in the Thurston County community by donating!
Williams, Wyckoff & Ostrander, PLLC
We have spent over 30 years protecting injured workers in workers ’ compensation cases. Williams, Wyckoff & Ostrander, PLLC 2958 Limited Lane NW P.O. Box 316 Olympia, Washington 98507 Phone: 360.528.4800 Email: wwo@wwolaw.net Website: wwolaw.net
Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
https://tcvls.org/donate/
and
The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County
https:// www.mediatethurston.org/ donate.html
Thank you for your support!
We provide free consultations to injured workers and we welcome your referrals.
ADVERTISING IN THE LEGAL BRIEF
The cost for advertising is $264 for a full page, $132 for 1/2 page, $60 for 1/4 page, and $30 for 1/8 page.
All advertisements are subject to approval of the Legal Brief ’ s Editorial Board. The Legal Brief is published bi - monthly (January, March, May, September and November).
For information on specs and to view past editions of the Legal Brief, visit our website:
The Legal Brief – Thurston County Bar Association
You can now pay for your advertising online here!
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Section/Committee Announcements...
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SECTION
Stay tuned for details about the next section meeting.
Meet the NEW Diversity & Inclusion Section Co - Chairs IVY - ROSE KRAMER KELSEY GASSELING
If you have any questions, please contact
Ivy - Rose Kramer at Ivy - rose.kramer@co.thurston.wa.us and Kelsey Gasseling at Kelsey.gasseling@co.thurston.wa.us.
VISIT THE TCBA DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SECTION WEB PAGE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Section/Committee Announcements, Continued
YOUNG LAWYER SECTION
The next section meeting is on Wednesday, November 22 at Pizzeria La Gitana at 12:00 p.m.
Meet the Young Lawyer Section Co - Chairs PETER LINDGREN DEVIN KOHR
If you have any questions, please contact Peter Lindgren at plindgren@bgwp.net and Devin Kohr at dkohr@bgwp.net
VISIT THE TCBA YOUNG LAWYER WEB PAGE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Section/Committee Announcements, Continued
FAMILY LAW SECTION
Meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held at 12:10 p.m. via Zoom.
Meet the Family Law Section Chair MEREDITH GERHART
If you have any questions, please contact Meredith Gerhart at (360) 350 - 6505 or Meredith@gerhartlegal.com
VISIT THE TCBA FAMILY LAW SECTION WEB PAGE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Section/Committee Announcements, Continued
REAL ESTATE, LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW SECTION
The next meeting is a CLE, “ Title Insurance Commitments: Red Flags and Guarantees ” presented by Jody Coots of Thurston County Title on November 16, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at Mercato Ristorante in Olympia
1 CLE credit has been approved by the WSBA. RSVP to astanton@dfpblaw.com by November 14. Everyone is welcome!
Meet the Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental Law Section Chair TREVOR ZANDELL
If you have any questions, please contact Trevor Zandell at 360 - 742 - 3500 or tzandell@dfpblaw.com.
VISIT THE TCBA REAL ESTATE, LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION WEB PAGE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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Section/Committee Announcements, Continued
CRIMINAL LAW SECTION
Stay tuned for details about the next section meeting.
Meet the new Criminal Law Section Co - Chairs OLIVIA ZHOU DIANAANDERSON
If you have any questions, please contact
Olivia Zhou at olivia.zhou@co.thurston.wa.us and Diana Anderson at diana.anderson@co.thurston.wa.us
VISIT THE TCBA CRIMINAL LAW SECTION WEB PAGE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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TCBA Fall Swearing - in Ceremony
The TCBA Young Lawyer Section Chair, Devin Kohr, organized the fall swearing - in ceremony on September 29, 2023, at Thurston County Superior Court. The Honorable Judge Allyson Zipp presided over the swearing - in of four new attorneys; Caleb Gieger, Jennifer O ’ Brien, Jennifer Dana - Farley and Jakub Kocztorz. After introductions, the Honorable Judge Zipp administered the Oath of Attorney. Wayne Graham, TCBA President, then welcomed the new attorneys and shared information about the TCBA. Randy Trick, Director at Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services (TCVLS), then also welcomed the new attorneys to the legal profession and shared information about TCVLS. The Honorable Judge Zipp then gave closing statements. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the swearing - in ceremony. Congratulations to Caleb Gieger, Jennifer O ’ Brien, Jennifer Dana - Farley, and Jakub Kocztorz!
From left to right: Caleb Gieger, Jennfer O ’ Brien, Jennifer Dana - Farley, Jakub Kocztorz, The Honorable Judge Allyson Zipp.
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TCBA & Other Upcoming Events
Fall Bench Bar Meeting: November 15, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at Thurston County Superior Court (Building 1, Room 152). Lunch will be provided by the TCBA.
TCBA December Member Luncheon & CLE: December 1, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (social 1/2 hour starts at 11:30 a.m.) at Tugboat Annie ’ s & on Zoom. The Topic is: Navigating the Changing Legal Landscape of College Athletics presented by Kiley Strong, University of Washington Associate Director of Compliance and Max Lebowitz, Director of Compliance. See more information on page 23. Salvation Army ’ s Adopt - A - Family Program: If you are interested in adopting a family through the Salvation Army ’ s Adopt - A - Family program, please email tcba.info@gmail.com by November 30, 2023. See information on page 31.
TCBA Holiday Lunch: The TCBA Annual Holiday Luncheon is on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Olympia Country & Golf Club at 12:00 p.m. See information on page 32.
January 2024 Issue of the Legal Brief: The deadline to submit articles and advertisements for the January 2024 Legal Brief is December 21, 2023. Please email them to Heather Ligtenberg at tcba.info@gmail.com.
Save the Dates: 2024 TCBA Member Luncheons & CLEs: See page 21 for the dates.
Please refer to the “ News & Events ” section on the TCBA website for a full list of upcoming events.
All Hail The Law Library Trustees!
Thurston County ’ s Board of Law Library Trustees has recently been reconstituted and will be working to expand the resources available to the Bar and the community through Thurston County ’ s Law Library. By statute, each county over a certain population is to have a law library, administered by a board of law library trustees, which must include two members from the county bar association. See RCW chapter 27.24. The Thurston County Bar Association ’ s representatives on Thurston County ’ s Board of Law Library Trustees are now Marie Docter and Michael Young. The other Trustees are Judge John Skinder, Judge Allison Zipp, and County Commissioner Carolina Mejia. Funding for a county ’ s law library is provided via a portion of each filing fee paid for civil matters, with monies deposited in a dedicated law library fund. See RCW 27.24.070. Thurston County ’ s Law Library Board of Trustees was inactive for some time and no significant expenditures were made from the law library fund. As a result, the current balance of the law library fund is estimated to be approximately $386,000. In the coming months, the Board of Law Library Trustees will be meeting and planning how best to spend monies from the law library fund to provide library resources to the Bar and the community. TCBA members are encouraged to provide their ideas for how these funds can best be utilized to expand library resources. Members may attend and participate in the Board ’ s public meetings. Meeting notices are posted on the Superior Court ’ s website, under “ court news, ” at https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/superior - court/court - news. To receive notice of Board meetings, contact Thurston County Superior Court staff attorney Matt Morbello at matt.morbello@co.thurston.wa.us. TCBA members may provide their ideas about the County Law Library through Marie or Michael via tcba.info@gmail.com.
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Dixie Cattell & Associates, LLC
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Save the Dates for the
Fall Bench Bar Meeting
2024 TCBA Member Luncheon and CLEs at Tugboat Annie ’ s at 12:00 p.m. (Social 1/2 hour starts at 11:30 a.m.):
November 15, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at Thurston County Superior Court (Building 1, Room 152)
Lunch will be provided by the TCBA.
January 26, 2024 February 16, 2024 March 22, 2024 April 26, 2024
Topics: TBD
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“ In Re: Cindy Gaddis ”
1. Name and year admitted to Bar: Cindy Gaddis, Admitted in Washington in October 2015 by waiving in from Oregon, admitted in 2011.
2. Areas you practice in: Currently worker ’ s compensation, wage & hour law, civil rights. Previously employment discrimination (plaintiff and defense) and tort claim defense for Washington state agencies.
3. I became a lawyer because . . . I was really tired of bartending. It was so refreshing to get back into an environment where I had to think deeply and analyze situations, and people cared about my opinions and conclusions.
4. The hardest part of being a lawyer is . . . managing ever - changing deadlines.
5. I would give this advice to a first - year law student: pick classes that you think are interesting, not just classes for areas of law that will be on the bar examination. If at all possible, do some clinical work through your law school.
6. Traits I admire in other attorneys: 1) Kindness. 2) Professionalism. 3) Approachability. 4) Willingness to work toward compromise rather than winner - takes - all mentality. 5) Kindness.
7. If I were not practicing law, I would be . . . managing a cat café!
8. What is the first thing you will do when you retire? Open up a cat café! Actually, I would probably take a long trip out of the country before opening the cat café. I would visit some cat cafes in other countries as research. I have already visited cat cafes in Edinburgh, Bruges, and Madrid. 9. If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future? Why? I love history, but I would not go to the past in many countries, including this country, because women have not enjoyed equal rights, freedom and treatment. As a matter of fact, I think we ’ re still working on that.
10. What words of wisdom would you pass on to your childhood self? It ’ s okay to ask for what you want.
11. What words of wisdom would you give to a young lawyer new to the profession? Make an effort to keep up with the extracurricular - type activities, hobbies, and friendships that make you who you are. Lawyering can be a rewarding profession that does not need to become your only identity.
Brief synopsis of Cindy Gaddis, her personal life, her work life, and any special awards or activities.
I grew up in Seattle, Washington, moved out of state after graduating from the University of Washington, and did not return to live in Washington for almost 20 years. I lived in SE Alaska giving historical tours about the gold rush of 1898, spent time in Austin, Texas, and owned a home on Portland, Oregon where I became a fan of the Portland Timbers. I play soccer in Olympia for a co - ed soccer team called Oly 5, and host an informal charitable fundraiser between winter and spring seasons called the Oly 5k.
I live in the Bigelow Highlands neighborhood of Olympia with my partner Jason Walker (also an attorney) and our tabby cat, and serve as a neighborhood association board member and Block Watch Captain.
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(Continued from page 22) “ In Re: Cindy Gaddis ”
At the Attorney General ’ s Office, in addition to being a full time litigator, I serve as the Law Clerk Supervi- sor for the LNI Division, Olympia Section, an attorney mentor, and a member of the AGO Pro Bono Com- mittee. Local pro bono activities have included the Housing Justice Project, the Thurston County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force, and representing a client on her asylum petition through Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Contact information (work phone and email): cindy.gaddis@atg.wa.gov 360 - 584 - 2085
TCBA is on Facebook!!
Join the private TCBA group at the link below where you will see information about the TCBA events and CLEs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/810480342493440/ You can also “ like ” the TCBA public page at the link below, but we will only be posting limited events open to non - members on the public page: https://www.facebook.com/thurstoncountybar/
TCBA December Member Luncheon & CLE
December 1, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. (11:30 a.m. social half hour starts) at the Viewpoint Room (below Tugboat Annie ’ s) & on Zoom
Navigating the Changing Legal Landscape of College Athletics presented by Kiley Strong, University of Washington Senior Associate Director of Compliance and Max Lebowitz, Director of Compliance
Cost is $30 for TCBA members and $35 for non - members 1 CLE credit is pending approval by the WSBA
To Register: On the TCBA website: https://thurstoncountybar.com/event/september - member - luncheon - cle/ or mail a check with your name, WSBA #, and email address to TCBA, PO Box 1653, Olympia, WA 98507
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The Thurston County Bar Association received the following letter from member, Gary Preble and wanted to share the issues raised in his letter with our membership. We would encourage you to share your thoughts, comments and concerns regarding TCLCR 56(c)(1) with Matt Morbello at matt.morbello@co.thurston.wa.us and the TCBA at tcba.infor@gmail.com.
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(Continued from page 28) Letter from Gary Preble
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(Continued from page 29) Letter from Gary Preble
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