The 2025 APEX Awards

Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst Award of Merit

Justice Susan Owens

(Presented posthumously)

Washington Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens was a true judicial giant whose service, character, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the legal landscape of Washington state. Her journey to the Washington Supreme Court is a story not only of perseverance and dedication, but also of bold, barrier-breaking leadership. When she was first elected in 2000, she became only the seventh woman to serve on our state’s highest court. In the years since, she served with distinction as the longest-serving female justice in Washington history.  But her impact goes far beyond those numbers. Justice Owens brought to the bench a unique and essential perspective, shaped by her early work as a tribal judge and as a district court judge in Clallam County. She carried that lived experience into her opinions and her leadership, advocating passionately for fairness, equity, and the rule of law—always grounded in a profound respect for every person who came before the court. She was a stalwart advocate for access to justice. Whether working to improve services for marginalized communities or championing the cause of those voices who are too often drowned out, Justice Owens never shied away from tough decisions. Her opinions reflected deep empathy, meticulous legal reasoning, and a fearless sense of duty to the Constitution and to the people of Washington. Many have had the privilege of working with her, learning from her, or simply witnessing her extraordinary career. What stands out is not just her brilliance as a jurist, but her humanity. Justice Owens brought warmth, humor, and humility to a role that demands so much. She reminded us that justice is not an abstract concept—it is a human endeavor.  

The Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst Award of Merit is the Bar’s highest honor and is given to an individual for a recent, singular achievement. The singular achievement may involve an individual who has displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity, thus bringing credit to the legal profession. It is awarded to individuals only — both legal professionals and members of the public.

The Pro Bono and Public Service Award for an individual is presented to a lawyer or other legal professional for outstanding cumulative efforts in providing pro bono services or who gives back in meaningful ways to the public, the community, or the legal profession.

Pro Bono and Public Service Award (Individual)

John Cummings

By using his legal prowess and commitment to empathy and kindness, John has been a lighthouse in the storm to those feeling lost or unheard. He is described as “a constant volunteer” whose “presence in the community is undeniable.” In partnership with TacomaProBono and the Inn of Court, John helped launch a name change clinic that assists people in navigating the stressful process of changing their identity documents. He has also served as a pro tem judge in the city of Lakewood and Thurston County and serves as the QLaw voting member liaison to the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, where he helps promote access to justice and improve the legal profession. John has also dedicated time to form and policy refinement at the county and state level. His public service work is not performative—it is who is he at his core. He not only volunteers tirelessly, but he also inspires others to do the same. 

Professionalism Award

Bruce Johnson

(Presented posthumously)

Bruce spent his entire legal career, nearly 50 years, with the firm Davis Wright Tremaine. There, he established a media law practice and became an authority on the First Amendment and specifically commercial speech. Bruce was singularly responsible for helping Washington state enact its first reporter’s shield law in 2007. He also (twice) helped to write and lobby for the passage of the state’s anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuits against public participation) statute. This legislative work was reflective of not only Bruce’s passion for the First Amendment but also his desire to ensure that the law protected everyone—not just his clients. In addition, Bruce represented local media outlets, including The Seattle Times, which dubbed him “one of the country’s preeminent First Amendment lawyers,” a sentiment echoed by many of his colleagues. Bruce’s legacy not only includes his own impressive and extensive legal work—it also includes decades of pro bono service and mentorship of countless younger attorneys, both inside and outside his firm.

The Professionalism Award is awarded to a WSBA member who exemplifies the spirit of professionalism in the practice of law, as defined in the WSBA’s Creed of Professionalism.

The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recognizes one attorney who has made significant contributions to the professional community, especially the community of young lawyers, within their initial years of practice. Recipients must be active WSBA members within five years of admission to any bar association or less than 36 years of age.

Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Tyler Quillin

As a member of the University of Washington School of Law Alumni Leadership Council (2024- present), Tyler continues to play a critical role in mentoring and supporting law students from underrepresented backgrounds, ensuring that they have the resources and opportunities to succeed. He has consistently used his position to guide young attorneys through the challenges of law school and early practice, as well as to connect young attorneys of all backgrounds with his extremely vast network of attorneys across the country. His work with the King County Bar Association’s New Lawyer Division (2019-2022) provided valuable mentorship for emerging legal professionals, particularly those from diverse backgrounds. Through every position he holds, Tyler continues to break down barriers and create pathways for underrepresented groups to thrive in the legal profession. His leadership, mentorship, and service are not only helping to transform the legal community but also are ensuring that diverse voices are heard and represented.

Lifetime Service Award

Dennis Cronin

(Presented posthumously)

Throughout his lifetime, Dennis devoted himself to those who did not have a voice, to those who were marginalized by society. After law school, he worked for more than a decade at Maxey Law Office in Spokane before starting his own firm, the Law Office of D.C. Cronin, in 2003. He had a strong passion for service, which is exemplified in the various roles he held including commissioner pro tem for Spokane County Superior Court from 2005 to 2015, chair of the Spokane County Bar Association’s Family Law Section from 2008 to 2022, chair of the WSBA’s LGBTQ+ Section from 2019 to 2020 and member of the Section’s executive committee from 2015 to 2021, and chair of Spokane’s Human Rights and Ethics Commissions. Dennis also served in a volunteer capacity as the Carl Maxey Center general counsel and the legal director and senior supervising attorney for the Sandy Williams Justice Center, which has provided free legal clinics since it opened in 2023. One significant achievement of his legal career was his role in helping to bring about General Rule 40—Washington’s Informal Family Law Trials—adopted by the Washington Supreme Court in 2022. The new rule promotes a less adversarial trial process and greater access to the legal system for people who represent themselves. Dennis had a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to serving his community even prior to becoming an attorney. In his 1982 application to Gonzaga University School of Law, Dennis wrote, “[f]or the past few years, the primary goal in my life has been to become a competent legal-aid lawyer … I have increasingly felt a moral commitment to aid the many disadvantaged people living in our society. This commitment is unshakable … Consequently, nothing shall prohibit my eventual fulfillment of this goal.”

The Lifetime Service Award is a special award given for a lifetime of service to the legal community and the public.

The Norm Maleng Leadership Award is given jointly by the WSBA and the Access to Justice Board, in honor of the late King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng’s legacy as a leader. He was an innovative and optimistic leader committed to justice and access to justice in both civil and criminal settings. Within the profession, his leadership was characterized by his love of the law and commitment to diversity and mentorship. This award recognizes those who embody these qualities.

Norm Maleng Leadership Award

Presented jointly with the Access to Justice Board

Erin Lennon

For the better part of a decade, from 2016 to 2025, Erin (pictured, left, with Justice Mary Yu) served as the first openly LGBTQ+ clerk and deputy clerk of the Washington Supreme Court before stepping down earlier this summer. Even though clerk of the court is a big job, Erin’s positive influence managed to outsize her formal title. Her technical brilliance and scrupulous ethics made her an ideal fit for the clerk’s role of interpreting and applying often-Byzantine court rules. Yet Erin was always aware that neutral-seeming rules can close the courthouse doors to meritorious claims, usually with a disparate impact on members of historically marginalized communities. Fortunately for the Washington legal system, Erin has a keen eye for justice, an extraordinary talent for organizing and inspiring people, and a unique ability to devise and implement solutions where others can’t even see a problem.

Legal Innovation Award

Blake Refund Bureau

The Blake Refund Bureau has effectively streamlined the refund process for legal financial obligations (LFOs) resulting from unconstitutional convictions under the landmark State v. Blake decision, 197 Wn.2d 170, 481 P.3d 521 (2021). Launched in July 2023, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Refund Bureau stands as the primary legal entity in Washington responsible for reimbursing individuals who paid LFOs on convictions now deemed unconstitutional. The significance of the Refund Bureau’s work is underscored by the extensive scope of cases impacted by State v. Blake. With 626,188 simple drug possession cases across all 39 county superior courts and various courts of limited jurisdiction dating back to 1971, the scale of potential refunds is substantial. Although not every case affected by Blake will require a refund, it is estimated that between five to 20 percent of cases will necessitate processing, highlighting the Bureau’s critical role in rectifying past injustices and ensuring fairness within the legal system.

The Legal Innovation Award recognizes legal professionals, law firms, courts, law schools, individuals, or organizations who demonstrate leadership in promoting innovation in the practice of law. Innovation may be defined as programs, processes, or technology that advance or streamline the future of the profession and accessibility/delivery of legal services.

The Justice Charles Z. Smith Excellence in Diversity Award is named in honor of Justice C. Z. Smith, the first African American to serve on the Washington Supreme Court. This award goes to a lawyer, law firm, or law-related group that has made a significant contribution to diversity in the legal profession.

Justice C.Z. Smith Excellence in Diversity Award

(Presented posthumously)

Kim Tran

Since she began her legal career, Kim was a champion of diversity and equal justice. Over the course of her law practice, she worked for Seattle City Light, Microsoft, and most recently, GitHub, where she served as in-house employment law attorney and head of HR legal. Despite a burgeoning career and volunteer commitments, Kim made time to seek opportunities and positions where she could effect change. She was the first woman of color to serve as president of the King County Bar Association, from 2015 to 2016. She was a distinguished fellow of the American Bar Foundation and participated in the inaugural class of the Washington Leadership Institute (now a collaborative effort between the WSBA and the University of Washington). She served as board president of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), as member and 2006 president of the Asian Bar Association of Washington, as chair of the Joint Asian Judicial Evaluations Committee, as a board member of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington, as a board member of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and a member and Best Under 40 honoree of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. In addition, Kim volunteered as a naturalization teacher, helping immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship. She was never content to sit on the sidelines and hope things would improve. She worked tirelessly to educate others about diversity, gently revealing opportunities for growth. She intuitively knew that creating opportunities for inclusion would lead to a more accepting and, in turn, more accessible community. She worked fiercely to improve the lives of the Asian and Pacific Islander community. Everything she did, she did with respectful strength and commitment.

Outstanding Judge Award

Hon. LeRoy McCullough

King County Superior Court Judge McCullough’s knowledge and experience has been consistently recognized by his colleagues who have entrusted him with leadership roles over the court and on various communities. He has served as the chief presiding judge of the Maleng Regional Justice Center and the King County Juvenile Drug Court. He has chaired the court’s Jury Committee, Personnel Committee, and Courts and Community Committee. Yet Judge McCullough’s impressive judicial service goes beyond his 36 years on the King County Superior Court bench. Prior to his appointment, he served as a chief hearing examiner for the Office of the Hearing Examiner and worked as an administrative law judge for more than a decade. His legal career is a legacy and amasses to nearly 50 years. Alongside his judicial work, Judge McCullough believes in community and civic education. He has a deep commitment to bridging courts and communities. More than simply being present in the community, he invites community members to be empowered with knowledge of the system and to engage with the judges who serve at their pleasure.

The Outstanding Judge Award is presented for outstanding service to the bench and for special contribution to the legal profession at any level of the court.

The Angelo Petruss Award for Lawyers in Government Service is named in honor of Angelo R. Petruss, a senior assistant attorney general who passed away during his term of service on the WSBA Board of Governors. It is given to a lawyer in government service who has made a significant contribution to the legal profession, the justice system, and the public.

Angelo Petruss Award for Lawyers in Government Service

Kristin Brewer

Kristin currently serves as senior counsel in the Office of the Washington State Attorney General. She has litigated for the office since 2007 in the Government Compliance and Enforcement Division’s Health Section. Her work protects some of the state’s most vulnerable populations and ensures the public’s continued trust and confidence in the state’s health care professionals and health care systems. Kristin has advocated on behalf of her clients in Washington’s administrative tribunals, superior courts, and appellate Divisions I, II, and III. Kristin is a tenacious litigator who teaches, mentors, and challenges those who work with her. As senior counsel, she generously mentors assistant attorneys general and the office’s support staff to ensure her experience continues to benefit those in the division. Kristin’s tenure at the Attorney General’s Office caps her career commitment to public service.