Page 5 - Pierce County Lawyer - July August 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
JULY/AUGUST PIERCE COUNTY LAWYER By Elizabeth Vincent
As we head into the hazy, lazy days of mid-Summer, we hope your summer vacation itinerary
is planned or you are already chilling in your destination of choice. Chillax as you savor some of
your well-earned downtime sampling our hand-picked summer fare.
[ PG. 6, 29 ] This issue’s focus is on our responsibility to
honor the rule of law by upholding the ethical principles
of our practice and serving those in need. Bar President Liz
Johnson asks us to make up for the seasonal lull in volunteerism
by saying yes to one of the various, flexible options available
through Tacomaprobono. Additionally, she highlights the
public service contributions of 2025 City of Destiny Adult
Leadership Award Winner, John Cummings, whose legal
outreach has benefited the underserved in our community,
including immigrants, low-income and LGBTQ+ parties.
<< [ PG. 9 ] Executive Director Kit Kasner,
perhaps the most deserving among us of a
vacay away, reminds us to sign up for the
fast-approaching Annual Bar Convention,
held this year from October 10th through 12th
at picturesque Skamania Lodge. This will
be a “Wizard of Oz” themed event, so don’t
hesitate to “ease on down the road” to an
event-filled, Toto-lly family-friendly weekend.
Convention Committee Co-Chair Catherine Case spotlights the
planned events, including dual track CLEs s so that members
have more presentation choices. Judge Anneke Berry from
Buckley Municipal Court also invites your munchkins to
participate in the new ‘Kidz Bar’ Program presented at the
Convention. Your Lollipop Guild can partake in sessions on the
art of storytelling and doodling, creating civic awareness, and
the importance of resilience.
[ PG. 15 ] Pierce County Superior Court Judge Diana Kiesel
bids a fond farewell to the stalwart staff members of Pierce
County’s Dependency Court for their tireless work on behalf
of families in crisis. She noted that working with them toward
the goal of serving the best interests of these children has been
a privilege.
[ PG. 16]
Contributor John Cain, a member
of the Tacoma-Pierce County Law
Library Board, submits an opinion
piece on the library’s recent massive
purging of their inventory. This
included many beloved books which,
according to the library’s criteria,
did not have practical legal research
information or were deemed not relevant, such as The First
Rumpole Omnibus and Sonya Sotomayer’s autobiography. He
notes that the Law Library is more than just a collection of legal
treatises, but a place to be inspired by stories and experiences,
as well as to forge a community.
[ PG. 19, 20 ]
Professor Weaver discusses
the relevance of Law Day in
the face of systemic attacks
on judicial independence
and the rule of law, calling
on members to come
together to re-affirm our duty
to uphold the Constitution
of our State and the United States. Tacoma
Municipal Court Judge Dee Sonntag
celebrates Law Day 2025, which was held on May 1st, where
legal teams spread out to 10 Pierce County high schools to give
presentations on one of our country’s founding principles: “E
Pluribus Unum,” or “Out of Many, One.” These participants,
contributed comments on the rewards of engaging students in a
discussion of our country’s legal traditions.
[ PG. 27 ]
Carole Grayson, Immediate Past Chair of
the WSBA Senior Law Section Executive
Committee, contributes information
on the Washington Lawyers Assisting
Lawyers (WALAL) program, which
provides peer counseling for lawyers facing
a variety of challenges, including mental
and physical health and substance abuse.
She underlines that these problems are faced by more than one-
third of our profession, and that WALAL was developed to offer
support for individuals at every stage of their law career, from
law student through retirement.
[ PG. 30 ] Jordan Couch submitted an insightful article on
institutional, chronic barriers to access to justice for the
underserved in communities. He stressed the necessity of
re-tooling our outdated legal system by embracing innovative
solutions that prioritize consumer needs over exclusionary
practices.
[ PG. 34, 37, 38 ] Frequent columnist David Shelvey gives
us more practical tips on solo practicing, specifically, tips for
scheduling and strict adherence to routine. Stephen Seely’s Law
Library News highlights the resources available not only in our
law library, but also the King County and Washington State Law
Libraries. And Tacomaprobono introduces us to their newest
Board Members, who represent a wide array of backgrounds
and experiences.
We appreciate your readership and dedication
to our local Bar community!
J u l y /A u g u s t 2 0 2 5 | P I E R C E C O U N T Y L A W Y E R 5