Case VII is a WSBA Records Request.  The court rule regarding Bar Records, GR 12.4, is used.  The question which will eventually be raised and decided is whether the Court Rule GR 12.4 applies to the exclusion of the Washington Public Records Act, RCW Ch. 42.56. In the recent the WSBA’s  Response to Eugster’s Appeal to the Records Review Appeal Officer under GR 12.4, the WSBA takes the position the Washington Public Records Act, RCW Ch. 42.56, does not apply.  Here is what the WSBA says: As a preliminary matter, access to Bar records is governed by GR 12.4. Therefore, …

I watched a WSBA Webinar today.  It was about changes in WSBA governance.  The changes have been discussed and commented upon for over two years.  In September at the WSBA BOG (Board of Governors) meeting certain items will be discussed. The person to whom questions concerning the changes and the reason for the changes were addressed to Robin Hayes, the Spokane lawyer who will succeed Bill Hyslop (a former partner of mine).  Ms. Hayes was quite energetic in her answers but each time she avoided the answers which truly explained what the “New WSBA” was about.  She was politically adept, surprisingly …

In late August, 2016, the Minnesota Supreme Court admonished a Colorado lawyer for helping his in-laws regarding a judgment against them by a condominium association.  The judgment was about $2,500.  The Colorado lawyer corresponded with the Minnesota lawyer representing the association.  The Minnesota attorney filed a complaint.  The bar and the Minnesota Supreme court held that the communications with the Minnesota attorney by the Colorado attorney about his in-law’s judgment consisted of the unauthorized practice of law.  Minn. High Court Scolds Colo. Atty for In-Laws Case.  The decision can be found here — Case A15-2078, Supreme Court of the State …