History Quick Links
Our Mission
The King County Bar Association's mission is to connect and serve our diverse legal community, promote professional and judicial excellence, engage in public policy, and increase access to justice.
OVER THE YEARS
2023
KCBA Makes History by Moving ABA to Adopt SCOTUS Code of Ethics.
2015
Issues report about problems with state’s referendum & initiative system.
2013
Approves resolution calling for abolition of the death penalty.
2011
"125th Anniversary"
Receives Goldmark Award from Legal Foundation of WA for 125 year commitment to civil legal aid and social justice.
Adopts resolution opposing racial profiling efforts against immigrants by AZ state.
First African American president of KCBA, James Andrus.
2008
First Latino American president of KCBA, Dan Gandara.
2007
Adopts resolution that marijuana should be regulated and taxed, with most criminal sanctions eliminated.
2005
First Asian American president of KCBA, Gary Maehara.
2003
Establishes King County Bar Institute.
2001
Issues report “Is it time to end the war on drugs?”
1993
Bar embraces its history and returns to its original name, King County Bar Association.
1987
Delay Reduction Task Force reduces massive Superior Court backlogs.
1979
Establishes King County Bar Foundation.
1974
Young Lawyers Section establishes Neighborhood Legal Clinics program.
Association calls for President Nixon's impeachment.
1973
Young Lawyers passes resolution urging special prosecutor in Watergate coverup.
1972
Betty Fletcher becomes first female president of SKCBA.
1971
Files amicus brief in reverse discrimination case at UW.
1970
Meets with mayor on police attacks against war protesters at UW.
Passes resolution that no bar meetings could be held at Rainier, WAC, or College Club where "male-only" rules were in force.
1969
Produces KCTS television series with WSBA, first program "The Limits of Protest."
Establishes minority law student program.
Trustees oppose efforts that would permit state governors to veto anti-poverty programs.
Public Defender Corporation forms, jointly sponsored by City of Seattle, Seattle Model Cities Program, and SKCBA.
1968
Begins pilot program for public defender office.
King County Superior Court local rules go into effect.
1961
YLS forms Law and Poverty Committee.
Young Lawyer Section forms high school liaison program.
1960
Sponsors radio and television programs on KING regarding various aspects of the law.
Appoints committee to participate in Seattle World's Fair.
1958
Changes name from Seattle Bar Association to Seattle-King County Bar Association.
Turns over all collected funds to Legal Aid Bureau and incorporates it as a separate entity.
1957
First volume of Seattle Bar Bulletin published and edited by Betty Fletcher & Louis Pepper.
Sections are formed for first time including Labor Relations Law and Family Law.
1954
Passes resolution reminding public that lawyers' views cannot be inferred by who they represent.
Young Lawyer Section forms high school liaison program.
1949
Young Lawyers Committee formed by new admittees after the war.
1948
Begins polling attorneys to rate candidates for Superior & Supreme Court.
1943
Little organized opposition by SBA to treatment of Japanese.
1941
First woman officer elected.
Passes resolution waiving dues of SBA members on active duty in the military.
1939
Hears address by controversial Marxist economist..
Moves to have separate offices & personnel for SBA Legal Aid Bureau.
Opposes expenditure of public funds for legal aid bureaus.
Establishes Legal Aid Bureau.
1937
Establishes committee to investigate providing free legal aid.
1933
State bar is formed as "integrated" mandatory bar, sharing offices with SBA and Judicial Council.
1924
Passes resolution that "class struggle" has no place in the courts.
1919
Passes resolution that members should turn in alien enemies or Industrial Workers of the World.
117 members give up their practices to serve in WWI.
1912
Committee formed to guide development of a law library for the new county courthouse.
1907
Recommends the legislature increase judicial salaries.
1906
Seattle Bar Association formed (while KCBA still existed).
Establishes the Seattle Law Library Association.
1886
Founded in response to attorney involvement in mob effort to deport Chinese citizens.