THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
The Clark County Bar Association is a professional organization that serves to support our local attorney community through providing education and networking opportunities designed to enhance and foster better relationships within the local legal community. All business, commercial & family law appeals. Kurt Greg Greg Cheney: 14+ years experience. Dedicated. Meticulous. Strategic. Kurt Rylander: 30+ years. All levels of appeal including before the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Contact us
August Hearsay Contributors
Marla Rapp
Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program
Marla Rapp is a Staff Attorney at the CCVLP, specializing in family law. In 2023 she won the Dean Langsdorf Family Law Attorney of the Year award.
Whitney Hawke
Wheeler Boyd, Attorneys at Law
Whitney Hawke is a partner at Wheeler Boyd. Her practice focuses primarily on family law. She is the immediate past president of the CBBA.
Amanda Hartman
Beaty Hatch
Amanda joined the Beaty Hatch team in February 2025 as a family law attorney. She focuses her practice on dissolutions, modifications and prenuptial agreements
Courtney Himes
Keystone Family Law PLLC
Courtney Himes is a litigator practicing exclusively family law in Clark County, Washington, and operating a solo virtual law firm, Keystone Family Law PLLC.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Deb Wechselblatt
(they/them)
A s t h e n e w s c h o o l y e a r b e g i n s , s o d o e s t h e C C B A ’ s m e m b e r s h i p y e a r
W e ’ r e e x c i t e d t o k i c k t h i n g s o f f w i t h o u r C o f f e e C a r t m e m b e r s h i p
e v e n t .
W h e t h e r y o u ’ r e a n e w f a c e o r a l o n g - s t a n d i n g m e m b e r , w e k n o w t h a t
f i n d i n g y o u r p l a c e i n a p r o f e s s i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n c a n b e o v e r w h e l m i n g .
T h e e v e n t w i l l f e a t u r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m e a c h o f o u r c o m m i t t e e s
a n d s e c t i o n s , r e a d y t o s h a r e h o w y ou c a n p l u g i n , g e t i n v o l v e d , a n d
m a k e t h e m o s t o f y o u r m e m b e r s h i p . C o m e b y f o r a c u p o f c o f f e e ,
c o n n e c t w i t h f e l l o w m e m b e r s , a n d e x p l o r e v o l u n t e e r a n d l e a d e r s h i p
o p p o r t u n i t i e s t a i l o r e d t o y o u r i n t e r e s t s a n d p r a c t i c e a r e a s . W h e t h e r
y o u ’ r e p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t p u b l i c s e r v i c e , l o o k i n g t o n e t w o r k w i t h
c o l l e a g u e s , o r r e a d y t o t a k e t h e n e x t s t e p i n t o a l e a d e r s h i p r o l e , w e ’ l l
h e l p y o u f i n d w h e r e y o u f i t .
T h e C C B A is b u i l t o n t h e e n e r g y , i d e a s , a n d i n v o l v e m e n t o f i t s
m e m b e r s . T h e C o f f e e C a r t M e m b e r s h i p K i c k - O f f i s y o u r o p p o r t u n i t y t o
t a k e t h a t f i r s t s t e p o r n e x t s t e p t o w a r d m e a n i n g f u l e n g a g e m e n t
w i t h y o u r l o c a l b a r
D e t a i l s :
E s p r e s s o Y o u r s e l f : F i n d Y o u r F i t a t C C B A - C o f f e e C a r t
�� L o c a t i o n : W e s t p a r k C o m m u n i t y R o o m - 6 1 0 E s t h e r S t , V a n c o u v e r ,
W A 9 8 6 6 0
��
D a t e : S e p t e m b e r 5 , 2 0 2 5
⏰ T i m e : N o o n
I f y o u ’ r e u n a b l e t o s t o p b y t h e c o f f e e c a r t , w e h o p e y o u ’ l l j o i n u s a t t h e
A n n u a l M e e t i n g . A t t h e A n n u a l M e e t i n g , w e ’ l l e l e c t n e w o f f i c e r s ,
p r o v i d e a n o v e r v i e w o f o u r s e c t i o n s a n d c o m m i t t e e s , a n d o f f e r a C L E
p r e s e n t a t i o n t i t l e d “ V i e w f r o m t h e B e n c h ” b y J u d g e s B a n f i e l d a n d
B a r t l e t t .
D e t a i l s :
C C B A A n n
V a n c o u v e r , W A 9 8 6 6 1
D a t e : S e p t e m b e r 1 5 , 2 0 2 5 ⏰ T i m e :
CCBA ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCH
September 15, 2025 - Noon to 1:00pm
Join us as we recap the last year and look forward to all the new and exciting things the CCBA has planned. As always, the Annual Meeting is FREE! There will be a $25 charge if you would like to join us for lunch.
This meeting will feature reports from Superior Court, District Court, and the Clerk's Office along with CCBA sections and committees The CCBA Treasurer will present the budget and we will elect our new slate of officers
Following the meeting, please consider joining us for a one hour CLE. CLE: View From The Bench 1:00pm - 2:00pm
564-397-5866
Presented by: Judge Camara Banfield and Judge Abbie Bartlett
deb.wechselblatt@clark.wa.gov
www.ccbawashington.org
P L A N T I N G S E E D S O F S E R V I C E
O n M a y 3 1 , 2 0 2 5 t h e D E I c o m m i t te e f o r t h e C C B A h o s te d a n e v e n t a t t h e
C l a r k Co u n t y Fo o d B a n k ’ s p l o t a t H e r i t a g e Fa r m s . I n t h e s u m m e r a n d f a l l
t h e C l a r k Co u n t y Fo o d B a n k c u l t i v a te s a n d h a r v e s t s m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 , 0 0 0
p o u n d s o f c a r r o t s , s q u a s h , a n d o t h e r v e g e t a b l e s a t t h e i r 78 t h S t r e e t
H e r i t a g e Fa r m p l o t . T h e y r e l y o n v o l u n te e r s to s u s t a i n t h i s i m p o r t a n t
h u n g e r r e l i e f e f f o r t We a t t h e C C B A to o k u p t h i s c a l l a n d a b o u t 3 0
a t to r n e y s , l e g a l s u p p o r t s t a f f a n d f a m i l i e s c a m e to f a r m . We h a d a t to r n e y s
f r o m m a n y p r a c t i c e a r e a s a s w e l l a s f r i e n d s , p a r t n e r s a n d c h i l d r e n –
e v e r y o n e e a g e r to f u l l y i m m e r s e t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e d i r t e x p e r i e n c e .
H a l f t h e g r o u p p l a n te d e g g p l a n t , A n a h e i m c h i l e s , p e p p e r s , a n d s n o w p e a s
w h i l e t h e o t h e r h a l f p l a n te d c o r n . A s p a r t o f t h e c o r n g r o u p I r e a l l y c a m e
to a p p r e c i a te t h e p h y s i c a l l a b o r e a r l y f a r m e r s i n t h i s r e g i o n T h e f a r m h a d
r e c e n t l y p u r c h a s e d a m a c h i n e to p l a n t c o r n – b u t i t w a s n o t y e t w o r k i n g s o
i n s te a d w e p l a n te d o u r s e e d s b y h a n d – t h i s m e a n s p l a c i n g a ke n n e l i n a
s m a l l h o l e , b u r y i n g t h a t ke n n e l i n t h e d i r t a n d t h e n m o v i n g 5 i n c h e s to d i g
a n o t h e r h o l e a n d d o i t a l l o v e r a g a i n . A f te r t h r e e h o u r s o f t h i s w o r k I c o u l d
b a r e l y m o v e
E v e n w i t h a l l t h e m u s c l e s o r e n e s s i t w a s a g r e a t e v e n t . O u r w e a t h e r w a s
p e r f e c t a n d w e h a d p l e n t y o f o p p o r t u n i t y w h i l e m o v i n g t h r o u g h t h e f i e l d s
to t a l k a n d g e t to k n o w e a c h o t h e r b e t te r .
Co u r t n e y M e n d o z a , M e n d o z a L a w G r o u p , s p o n s o r e d o u r e v e n t – p r o v i d i n g
c o f f e e , w a te r a n d d o u g h n u t s . A f te r a l l t h a t w o r k t h e d o u g h n u t s w e r e
e s p e c i a l l y a p p r e c i a te d
M a t t – o u r g u i d e f r o m t h e Fo o d B a n k i n v i te d u s to r e t u r n to t h e f i e l d s t h i s
S e p te m b e r to h e l p w i t h t h e h a r v e s t o f t h e c o r n a n d t h e o t h e r v e g e t a b l e s
Vo l u n te e r s a r e w e l c o m e e v e r y S a t u r d a y f r o m 9 : 0 0 -1 2 : 0 0 . R a r e l y d o
v o l u n te e r s g e t to s e e t h e f r u i t s o f t h e i r l a b o r c l e a r w a y – p l e a s e l e t m e
k n o w i f t h e r e i s a n y i n te r e s t to s e t u p a n o t h e r C C B A g r o u p to d o s o m e
h a r v e s t i n g .
T h e D E I c o m m i t te e o f t h e C C B A w i l l b e p l a n n i n g f u t u r e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r
v o l u n te e r i n g i n o u r c o m m i t te e o u t s i d e t h e l a w We w e l c o m e a n y
s u g g e s t i o n s o r i d e a s f o r p r o j e c t s f o r o u r m e m b e r s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d
f r i e n d s
ALEX USKOSKI
2025 WACDL ANTHONY SAVAGE AWARD WINNER
BY WHITNEY HAWKE
This story starts on April 1, 2025 when I received a text from Alex Uskoski’s wife. “Make Alex tell you about some attorney award he is getting. I don’t know what it’s called, but I keep asking if he has told you guys and he hasn’t!”
a n c e o r r e s u l t a c h i e v e d b y a n a t t o r n e y
i n p r a c t i c e l e s s t h a n t e n y e a r s . A l e x w a s
n o m i n a t e d b y h i s c l o s e f r i e n d s a n d m e n t o r s –
J o n M c M u l l e n , a n d G e o r g e B i a n c h i ( o n e o f
S e a t t l e ’ s p r o m i n e n t D U I d e f e n s e a t t o r n e y s )
A l e x i s a p a r t n e r a t t o r n e y a t W h e e l e r B o y d . H e
i s a C l a r k C o u n t y n a t i v e H i s p r a c t i c e f o c u s e s
e x c l u s i v e l y o n D U I d e f e n s e , D O L i s s u e s , a n d
d r i v i n g r e l a t e d o f f e n s e s . I f y o u ’ v e e v e r h a d a
D U I / D O L q u e s t i o n , A l e x h a s p r o b a b l y l e n t a
h e l p i n g h a n d . A l e x h a s a r g u e d o v e r 6 0 0 D O L
h e a r i n g s a n d o b t a i n e d m o r e t h a n 2 5 0
d i s m i s s a l s .
I f y o u k n o w A l e x , t h i s a w a r d s h o u l d c o m e a s
n o s u r p r i s e . A l s o , i f y o u k n o w A l e x , t h e f a c t
t h a t h e d i d n ’ t t e l l h i s l a w p a r t n e r s a b o u t t h i s
a w a r d s h o u l d c o m e a s n o s u r p r i s e e i t h e r . A l e x
i s h u m b l e , a l m o s t t o a f a u l t . T h e A n t h o n y
S a v a g e A w a r d i s n a m e d a f t e r S e a t t l e a t t o r n e y
A n t h o n y “ T o n y ” S a v a g e w h o p a s s e d a w a y i n
2 0 1 2 a t a g e 8 1 . T o n y S a v a g e ’ s o b i t u a r y
d e s c r i b e s h i m a s “ t h e p a r a g o n o f i n t e g r i t y , ” a n d “ j u s t a 1 0 0 p e r c e n t a l l - a r o u n d g u y H e
n e v e r s a i d a n u n k i n d w o r d a b o u t a n y b o d y . ”
B a s e d o n t h a t , A l e x w a s t h e p e r f e c t r e c i p i e n t
o f t h i s a w a r d
T
h r o u g h h i s w o r k o v e r t h e p a s t
d e c a d e , A l e x h a s e a r n e d a
r e p u t a t i o n a s o n e o f W a s h i n g t o n ’ s
p r e e m i n e n t D U I a t t o r n e y s i n t h e
c o n t e x t o f b o t h c r i m i n a l a n d
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l i t i g a t i o n . A l e x i s a
m e m b e r o f t h e W a s h i n g t o n
F o u n d a t i o n f o r C r i m i n a l J u s t i c e ( a
g r o u p I l o v i n g l y r e f e r t o a s “ T h e
S e c r e t O r d e r o f D U I N e r d s ” ) . I n 2 0 2 4 ,
A l e x c o - a u t h o r e d “ D e f e n d i n g D U I s i n
W a s h i n g t o n ” – t h e s t a t e w i d e m a n u a l
f o r D U I d e f e n s e p r a c t i c e . A l e x
f r e q u e n t l y p r e s e n t s D U I C L E s
t h r o u g h o u t t h e s t a t e a n d h a s
w o r k e d w i t h W F C J a n d W A C D L o n
D U I l e g i s l a t i v e t o p i c s s i n c e 2 0 1 9 . A l e x
h a s t e s t i f i e d a t l e g i s l a t i v e h e a r i n g s
t o w e i g h i n o n D U I r e l a t e d
l e g i s l a t i o n
A l e x r e c e i v e d t h e A n t h o n y S a v a g e
A w a r d o n J u n e 1 3 , 2 0 2 5 a t t h e 2 0 2 5
W A C D L C o n f e r e n c e i n L a k e C h e l a n ,
W A . T h e r e c i p i e n t i s e n t r u s t e d w i t h
A n t h o n y S a v a g e ’ s b r i e f c a s e ( y e s , h i s
a c t u a l b r i e f c a s e ) f o r t h e n e x t y e a r .
A l e x ’ s a c c e p t a n c e s p e e c h
h i g h l i g h t e d A n t h o n y S a v a g e ’ s
i m p a c t o n W a s h i n g t o n ’ s l e g a l
c o m m u n i t y t h r o u g h h i s w i s d o m ,
c o m p a s s i o n , d i g n i t y , a n d k i n d n e s s –
t h i n g s A l e x s t r i v e s t o e m u l a t e i n h i s
e v e r y d a y p r a c t i c e .
A n d r e w W h e e l e r ’ s i n t r o d u c t i o n
s p e e c h f o c u s e d o n A l e x ’ s p e r s o n a l
i n t e g r i t y , a s w e l l a s h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l
a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s . A n d r e w t o l d a n
a n e c d o t e t o h i g h l i g h t A l e x ’ s
c h a r a c t e r A l e x a n d A n d r e w h a d
b e e n t r y i n g t o t r a c k d o w n a
p r o s e c u t o r t o n e g o t i a t e a c a s e f o r
m o n t h s A l e x f i n a l l y g o t a n i n -
p e r s o n m e e t i n g o n t h e c a l e n d a r t o
t a l k t h r o u g h t h e c a s e . W h e n A l e x
r e t u r n e d f r o m t h e l o n g m e e t i n g ,
A n d r e w a s k e d “ s o h o w d i d i t g o ?
D i d t h e y a c c e p t o u r c o u n t e r o f f e r ? ”
A l e x s a i d , “ W e a c t u a l l y d i d n ’ t r e a l l y
t a l k a b o u t t h e c a s e a t a l l . T h e y w e r e
h a v i n g a r o u g h d a y , s o w e e n d e d u p
t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e i r f a m i l y , t h e i r k i d s ,
a n d j u s t a b o u t l i f e i n g e n e r a l . W e ’ l l
t a l k b u s i n e s s a n o t h e r d a y ” A l e x i s
n o t o n l y a g o o d a t t o r n e y , b u t a
g o o d p e r s o n . A n t h o n y S a v a g e ’ s
b r i e f c a s e s u i t s h i m j u s t f i n e .
Clients Don't Often See the Whole Board
Divorce can be like a chess match. In the midst of the emotions that come with it clients don't often see the whole board. Having a CDLP® on your client team will protect them now and when they're ready to make the next move. Contact Theresa Springer, CDLP® today!
Prepared Clients Are Better Clients
A Resource for Clients Exploring Divorce
Not all clients are ready for immediate legal action. Our workshops are ideal for those exploring their options. Referring them to Second Saturday prepares them for future steps, leading to more decisive clients for your practice.
Expand Your Network and Client Base
Presenting at Second Saturday Workshops showcases your expertise, builds connections, and attracts clients in the early stages of considering divorce. This exposure positions you as a trusted family law authority leading to new business opportunities.
PORTUGAL PORTUGAL BOUND: BOUND:
PLANNING RETIREMENT AND NAVIGATING VISAS
By Amanda Hartman
I t ’ s n e v e r t o o e a r l y t o s t a r t p l a n n i n g
f o r y o u r r e t i r e m e n t . T h a t i s t h e
a p p r o a c h m y h u s b a n d , M a t t h e w ,
a n d I t o o k w h e n l o o k i n g a t o u r
f u t u r e . W e k n e w t h a t w e w a n t e d t o
r e t i r e t o a n E . U . c o u n t r y w i t h a g r e a t
b a l a n c e o f c l i m a t e , c o s t o f l i v i n g ,
h e a l t h c a r e , a n d o t h e r b e n e f i t s . W h i l e
w e l o o k e d a t m a n y c o u n t r i e s , w e
d e c i d e d o n P o r t u g a l s e v e r a l y e a r s
a go b e c a u s e i t h a s a m i l d c l i m a t e ,
b e a u t i f u l l a n d s c a p e s , a c c e s s t o
q u a l i t y h e a l t h c a r e , a n d a r e l a t i v e l y
a c c e s s i b l e p a t h t o r e s i d e n c y .
I n p a r t i c u l a r , P o r t u g a l h a d a l o v e l y g o l d e n v i s a p r o g r a m t h a t l e t s
y o u i n v e s t i n t o r e a l e s t a t e t o g e t i n . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e y ’ v e
r e s t r u c t u r e d t h e p r o g r a m a n d l i m i t e d t h e a b i l i t y t o i n v e s t i n r e a l
e s t a t e s o t h e p r o g r a m n o l o n g e r m e e t s o u r n e e d s . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
w e s t i l l l o v e d t h e c o u n t r y ’ s o t h e r p e r k s a n d s o w e c h e c k e d i n t o a l t e r n a t i v e v i s a s :
1 . G o l d e n V i s a : W h i l e t h e p r e v i o u s r e a l e s t a t e o p t i o n w a s l i m i t e d
i n 2 0 2 3 y o u c a n s t i l l i n v e s t € 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 o r d o n a t e € 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 t o s p e c i f i c a r e a s l i k e t h e a r t s o r n a t i o n a l c u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e .
2 . D 7 ( r e t i r e e / p a s s i v e i n c o m e ) : D i s c u s s e d f u r t h e r b e l o w , t h i s v i s a
r e q u i r e s y o u t o s h o w a n a b i l i t y t o s u p p o r t y o u r s e l f w i t h
p a s s i v e i n c o m e .
3 . O t h e r e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d v i s a s – w h i c h w e d i d n o t l o o k t o o
f a r i n t o a s o u r p l a n i s t o r e t i r e t o t h e c o u n t r y . T h e D 8 ( d i g i t a l
n o m a d ) v i s a m a y b e an o p t i o n f o r p e o p l e w h o w a n t t o w o r k
r e m o t e l y f r o m P o r t u g a l .
T h e g o l d e n v i s a i n i t s c u r r e n t f o r m i s a l o n g w a y o f f s o i n s t e a d
w e ’ v e f o c u s e d i n o n t h e D 7 . H o w e v e r , o n g o i n g c h a n g e s i n
P o r t u g u e s e l e g i s l a t i o n m a y c o n t i n u e t o i m p a c t t h e r o a d t o
c i t i z e n s h i p . F o r n o w t h e d o o r r e m a i n s o p e n b u t t h e p a t h i s
b e c o m i n g l o n g e r a n d m o r e c o m p l e x . A C o n s t i t u t i o n a l c h a l l e n g e
t o P o r t u g a l ’ s n e w e s t ( p r o p o s e d ) i m m i g r a t i o n l aw w a s u p h e l d a s
r e c e n t l y a s A u g u s t 8 , 2 0 2 5 . I f y o u ' r e s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r i n g P o r t u g a l
o r a n y c o u n t r y a s a r e t i r e m e n t d e s t i n a t i o n , i t ’ s i m p o r t a n t t o
s t a y i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e l a t e s t l e g a l r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h e p r o p o s e d
l e g i s l a t i o n c h a n g e s h a v e n ’ t d i s s u a d e d u s ; M a t t h e w a n d I s t i l l p l a n t o m o v e t o P o r t u g a l . T h o u g h , a s w e ’ l l e x p l o r e f u r t h e r i n t h i s s e r i e s , w e m a y e n d u p a p p l y i n g u n d e r d i f f e r e n t v i s a s , w i t h M a t t h ew p u r s u i n g t h e D 7 a n d m e t h e D 8 . W e w i l l n e e d t o s e e w h a t h a p p e n s n e x t a s t h e p r o p o s e d l a w r e t u r n s t o P a r l i a m e n t !
O f c o u r s e , t h e l e g a l p r o c e s s i s o n l y o n e p i e c e o f t h e p u z z l e . A g r e a t v i s a p r o g r a m d o e s n ’ t h e l p m u c h i f y o u m o v e s o m e w h e r e a n d r e a l i z e y o u d o n ’ t a c t u a l l y w a n t t o s t a y . O n c e w e h a d a c l e a r
HEADER (CHANGE ON MASTER B)
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e l e g a l p a t h w a y s , w e n e e d e d t o m a k e s u r e
P o r t u g a l w a s a p l a c e w e t r u l y w a n t e d t o l i v e . T h a t l e d t o o u r 2 0 2 5
P o r t u g a l s c o u t i n g t r i p .
W e s p e n t a b o u t t w o w e e k s t r a v e l i n g a r o u n d t h e c o u n t r y , v i s i t i n g
m a j o r c i t i e s w e m i g h t o n e d a y c a l l h o m e , a l o n g w i t h s o m e o f t h e
s u r r o u n d i n g c o u n t r y s i d e . O v e r t h e n e x t f e w m o n t h s t h i s s e r i e s
w i l l s h a r e s o m e o f t h o s e c i t i e s a n d p r o v i d e a n o v e r v i e w o f t h e
p r oc e s s f o r a p p l y i n g f o r c i t i z e n s h i p t h r o u g h t h e D 7 ( a n d m a y b e
D 8 ) v i s a .
F A M I L Y L A W S E C T I O N
H E A T S U P A T
T I M B E R S M A T C H
BY COURTNEY HIMES
O n S a t u r d a y , J u n e 8 , t h e F a m i l y L a w
S e c t i o n c l o s e d o u t i t s 2 0 2 4 – 2 0 2 5
s e s s i o n w i t h a m a j o r l e a g u e
c e l e b r a t i o n a t P r o v i d e n c e P a r k a s t h e
P o r t l a n d T i m b e r s f a c e d o f f a g a i n s t S t .
L o u i s C I T Y S C . W i t h k i c k o f f a t 4 : 0 0 P M
a n d t e m p e r a t u r e s r e a c h i n g 9 6
d e g r e e s , i t w a s n ’ t j u s t t h e T i m b e r s
b r i n g i n g t h e h e a t . F a m i l y L a w S e c t i o n
m e m b e r s , a l o n g w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s
a n d f r i e n d s , g a t he r e d t o e n j o y a l i v e l y
m a t c h f r o m t h e C l u b D e c k c o m p l e t e
w i t h a c a t e r e d m e a l .
T h e g a m e i t s e l f w a s o n e f o r t h e h i g h l i g h t r e e l s . A f t e r f a l l i n g b e h i n d e a r l y i n t h e
s e c o n d h a l f , t h e T i m b e r s r o a r e d b a c k w i t h a p a i r o f s t u n n i n g g o a l s : A n t o n y ’ s
d a z z l i n g s t r i k e i n t h e 5 5 t h m i n u t e a n d D a v i d A y a l a ’ s d r a m a t i c s t o p p a g e - t i m e
w i n n e r i n t h e 9 2 n d . W i t h t h e 2 – 1 c o m e b a c k v i c t o r y , t h e T i m b e r s e x t e n d e d t h e i r
u n b e a t e n h o m e s t r e a k t o e i g h t m a t c h e s a n d c l i m b e d t o f o u r t h i n t h e W e s t e r n
C o n f e r e n c e s t a n d i n g s .
T h i s
Congratulations to the 29 McKinley Irvin attorneys selected to 2025 Super Lawyers & Rising Stars in Washington and Oregon
Clark County Bar Association
CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING
July 8, 2025
Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting July 8, 2025
1. Called to order 12:08 pm, Wechselblatt, Petersen, Larson, Rapp, Mendoza, Hawke
2. June 3, 2025 board meeting minutes: Motion to Approve (Hawke/Rapp) Approved.
3. Treasurer’s Report: Melnick unavailable to attend meeting. He prepared and left the financial reports in board folder.
4. CCBA Big Picture
a. Creative Sprint & Survey Results to date: reviewed response data and discussed ideas from the Creative Sprint
b. Review Trustee Job Description and Mission Statements: Reviewed the executive committee job descriptions. Proposed changes. Will review final draft at the next meeting. Will discuss the mission statement at the next meeting.”
c. Mentorship Workgroup: tabled to the next meeting
6. Upcoming Meetings/ Events
a. “The Mayhew” Golf Tournament: 6/11/25
b. CLE-- DEI Backlash and the Erosion of the Rule of Law: What’s so “Controversial” About Being Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive? 7/23/25 noon to 1:30 on Zoom
c. Summer Soiree: 8/16/25
d. Annual Meeting: 9/15/25 noon to 1:00
Adjourned 12:50
Clark County Superior Court
BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
August 12, 2025
Persons in attendance: Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp.org), Judge Banfield (Camara.Banfield@clark.wa.gov), Carl Snodgrass (carl.snodgrass@nwjustice.org)
If you have matters that you would like to bring to the attention of the Bench/Bar, you are welcome to contact the above-mentioned members of the committee. The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 9th at 12:00. Please email Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp.org) for the Zoom link if you would like to attend.
• Trying to shore up the continuance policy to have more consistent pre-trial forms for continuances within the civil department.
• Judge Gregerson just came on board on the civil rotation. He has now joined the UDA docket rotation.
• For ex parte (other than for UDAs) the civil judges are willing to have ex parte documents delivered to their mailboxes in the court admin office.
Carl Snodgrass:(Northwest Justice Project)
• NJP is doing work on LFOs. There are new mandatory petition forms. The clerk’s office has an additional form that they are requiring which asks for a financial summary (a very detailed list of all the financial information which is useful for the collections agency, but not needed under the statute). NJP is wanting to make sure that pro se people have the correct information as the form the clerk is saying is mandatory is making things unnecessarily difficult for pro se individuals.
• Judge Banfield requested a copy of the form being required by the clerk’s office and suggested NJP try communicating with the elected clerk directly about it because the changes to the process were meant to make the LFO process more accessible, and not to make things more difficult for pro se people.
Jessi Anderson: (Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program)
• Wondering if the bench has noticed an increase in parties failing to appear for hearings, possibly out of fear of coming in person to the courthouse? CCVLP & NJP are considering efforts to make additional spaces available for remote hearing attendance.
• Judge Banfield suggested talking with the family law/protection order court staff to determine whether they have noticed an increase and whether there might be a solution to request a remote appearance (for an otherwise in-person required hearing) without increasing the danger for those seeking assistance from the courts.
