Bar in Brief > Rule of Law Ambassadors: Let's Come Together to Build Confidence in Our Legal System

COLUMN > A Note From the WSBA Executive Director

BY TERRA NEVITT

For most of my adult life, American society has felt divided. At any given time, roughly half of us seem to feel deeply fearful for the future of our country. Like many, when I am out in the community, I find myself drawn to like-minded people. It feels good to have my fears and anger validated by others. At the same time, I find that it becomes harder and harder to understand the perspectives of those who see the world fundamentally differently.

Research bears out my experiences. A new comprehensive study from NORC at the University of Chicago¹ shows that we are becoming profoundly polarized across the nation; in fact, the only thing it seems like we can universally agree on is a deep and growing distrust of the government and our fellow citizens.

The name of that study is “Civic Cynicism in the United States.” Civic cynicism—from my viewpoint as a lawyer, is one of the most alarming trends I can imagine for our profession and country. Legal institutions in a constitutional democracy depend on popular participation and support to maintain their authority. When we stop valuing and heeding our system of government—built on the foundational pillar of a free and independent judiciary—it goes away.

Legal professionals have a unique obligation that is underscored in times like these. It is written into the preamble of Washington’s Rules of Professional Conduct,² which calls out lawyers’ “special responsibility for the quality of justice,” which includes “furthering the public’s understanding of and confidence in the rule of law and the justice system” and playing “a vital role in the preservation of society.” It is written into the Washington Court Rules³ that they establish the purpose of the State Bar: to promote “independence of the judiciary and the legal profession” and “understanding of and respect for our legal system and the law.”

More fundamentally, this is an obligation written into the hearts of legal professionals. And I have heard from many of you in recent months, earnestly and urgently asking how we can individually and collectively combat growing civic cynicism, especially as it threatens to erode the rule of law. This was the case in November, when the legal community asked how to promote and defend free and fair elections. This was the case in January, when the legal community asked how to uphold the peaceful transfer of power. This was the case in March, when the legal community asked how to support an independent legal profession in the face of several executive orders targeting lawyers and law firms for doing their work. (See the WSBA Board of Governors’ Statement in Support of an Independent Legal Profession Free from Government Retaliation.⁴)

“What can we do?” so many have asked, and“How can the Bar support the legal community?”Or, as the Board of Governors said in their statement: “If lawyers and judges are not willing or able to defend liberty and freedom for all people under the law and Constitution, who will?”

We hope to provide you with an outlet for those feelings and questions as the WSBA launches its Rule of Law Ambassador Program. The initiative has been in the works since February 2024, and the focus is nonpartisan—in fact, the purpose is to unite legal practitioners across the political spectrum to demonstrate to Washingtonians that the rule of law serves all of us. Our concern stems not from who is currently in power; it stems from the deep divide, apathy, and cynicism that is affecting U.S. citizens, causing them to devalue and turn away from our basic tenets of democracy.

Here are some of our key ambassador messages: The same laws apply to everyone, and everyone is treated equally under the law; government power is bound by law; and human rights are guaranteed to all. This is the promise of the rule of law, and that is what we strive for in Washington state.

The WSBA Board of Governors has adopted the public ambassador function as one of their official roles and responsibilities. The Rule of Law Ambassador Program will equip volunteer legal professionals to take part, as well. We are creating a toolkit that volunteers can use to educate and engage with their communities. The toolkit will include presentation templates and speaking points, best-practice guidance regarding community engagement, and tips for combatting conversational misinformation. The long-term goal is to develop resources to empower legal professionals to build community relationships to get to the root of public mistrust of the legal system.

One of the major focuses of the ambassador program will be the U.S. Constitution. Our intent is to ground our volunteers in constitutional law so they are prepared to educate community members, secure its continuing authority as the foundation of our democracy, and uphold the inherent rights it guarantees to all. Toward that end, we are kicking off the Rule of Law Ambassador Program with a public show of support for the Constitution. On Law Day, May 1, an initial cohort of ambassadors—legal leaders across the state—will invite you to retake your professional oath, emphasizing your responsibility to support the federal and state constitutions. In essence, we want to say to Washingtonians: The Washington legal community is not polarized when it comes to defending the rights and liberties of everyone.

Does this work sound important to you? Would you like to join us to take a step toward overcoming growing civic cynicism? Please join us as a Rule of Law Ambassador. Visit www.wsba.org/ambassadors to sign on and find a Law Day kickoff event near you.

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Stand Up for the Rule of Law

The WSBA invites you to join its volunteer Rule of Law Ambassador Program, which will equip volunteer legal professionals to educate their local communities about the importance of an independent legal profession as a cornerstone of U.S. democracy and to build relationships to increase trust and confidence in the rule of law. We are kicking off the program with coordinated events on Law Day, May 1, for lawyers to publicly recommit to their professional oath to uphold the Constitution. To learn more and volunteer, visit www.wsba.org/ambassadors.