The WSBA Board of Governors determines the Bar’s general policies and approves its annual budget
The agenda, materials, and video recording from this Board of Governors meeting, as well as past meetings, are online here: www.wsba.org/bog.
March 6, 2026
TOP MEETING TAKEAWAYS
Local Hero. The WSBA recognized Trevor Zandell, an honor bestowed by the WSBA president in partnership with county bar associations to recognize colleagues who make noteworthy contributions to their communities. Trevor was nominated by the Thurston County Bar Association for his unwavering commitment to service, whether as a board president for United Way of Thurston County, as a youth sports coach, or as a leader with the Thurston County Bar.
Celebration of Law Clerks. The WSBA held its second annual celebration for graduating APR 6 law clerks. The Law Clerk Program is an alternative to law school, a four-year course of study designed to provide educational and practical experience through a combination of work and study with an experienced lawyer or judge. This year’s ceremony featured keynote speaker King County District Court Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai, the first law clerk graduate to join a judicial bench.
Annual Meeting with the Washington Supreme Court. The Board traditionally meets with the Supreme Court in March to talk about mutual interests. This year’s topics included updates on the Entity Regulation Pilot Project, the new experiential pathway to licensure, Equity and Justice Action Plan, Justice Gap Scoping Work Group, and Rule of Law Ambassador Program.
Pledge to Preserve the Independence of the Profession. In line with values and commitments made as part of the Rule of Law Ambassador Program, the Board as an entity agreed to sign the National Conference of Bar Presidents’ (NCBP) Pledge to Preserve the Independence of the Legal Profession and the Judicial System and approved sponsoring a related ABA House of Delegates resolution. Patrick Palace, NCBP president and former WSBA president, told the Board he drafted the pledge in response to growing concerns about threats to judicial independence and the rule of law and to unite bar leaders across the nation in support of democratic governance. Board members remarked that these principles underlie the Speak Up for Justice Washington! tour, a partnership between the ambassador program and county bars. The WSBA will sponsor a related resolution before the ABA House of Delegates at the ABA annual meeting in August. Read the full pledge at https://ncbp.org/page/NCBPPledge.
Lunch and Learn Events: Immigration Enforcement. The Rule of Law Ambassador Program was a prominent topic throughout the March meeting, with Board and court leaders emphasizing the need for legal professionals to be present in their communities to uphold the rule of law—as sources of good information, to build relationships, and for civic engagement. Toward that goal, the WSBA is creating an ongoing series of virtual lunch-and-learn events to equip legal professionals to be well-informed resources, answer questions, and dispel misconceptions about the role of the legal community in pressing legal topics. Topics will include federal immigration enforcement, Fourth Amendment rights, First and Second Amendment rights, and jurisdictional conflicts/supremacy. Email ambassadors@wsba.org to receive registration information as well as ongoing ambassador opportunities, events, and resources.
The Board also:
- Approved comments to CrR 4.2, CrR 4.7, CrRLJ 4.7, and GR 33, as recommended by the WSBA Court Rules and Procedures Committee. This committee is actively reviewing the Criminal Rules for Superior Courts and the Criminal Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction this year. The comments will now be submitted to the Supreme Court for consideration during the public comment period.
- Heard an update on the experiential pathway to licensure, as an alternative to the bar exam. (Expect to learn more about recommendations for implementation of the new pathways to licensure in an upcoming issue of Bar News.)
- Appointed a new trustee to the Washington State Bar Foundation.
- Approved changes recommended by the Board’s Governance Committee to the WSBA Bylaws regarding political activities by governors and officers.
SAVE THE DATE > The next regular meeting is May 1–2, 2026, in Wenatchee. To subscribe to the Board Meeting Notification list, email barleaders@wsba.org.
On March 6, the WSBA held its annual celebration for graduating APR 6 law clerks. From left: WSBA President Francis Adewale, Law Clerk Program graduate Erika Bellamy, WSBA Executive Director Terra Nevitt, and Law Clerk Board member John Meyers.
BELOW: King County District Court Judge Fa’amomoi Masaniai keynoted the event.
