HearSay
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
February 2026
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
February Hearsay Contributors
Brad Andersen
Brad Andersen Law
Brad Andersen is a trial attorney and litigator representing a broad range of clients in a wide variety of litigation and trial disputes.
Jason focuses his practice on real estate, business and commercial, and construction litigation. Jason represents both plaintiffs and defendants.
Jesse Jacobs NW Injury Law Center
Jesse Jacobs is a trial attorney representing personal injury clients in Southwest Washington.
Jean McCoy’s practice focus is real estate transactions and conflict resolution, landlord/tenant and creditors’ rights.
Courtney Mendoza Mendoza Law
Courtney Mendoza started Mendoza Law in 2024, representing clients in matters involving family law and criminal defense.
Jean Mccoy Landerholm, P.S
Jason Rosenbaum Chenoweth Law Group, P.C.
McKinley Irvin Welcomes New Partners
We are proud to announce Faye BreitReed, Elizabeth Hoffman-Graff, and Jane Malico as our newest Partners at McKinley Irvin.
Each brings a strong record of delivering meaningful results through dedicated, thoughtful advocacy. Their leadership reflects our firm’s core values and our ongoing commitment to protect what our clients value most.
. T h i s b r i s k l y p a c e d m y s t e r y t h r i l l e r
g a t h a C h r i s t i e b l u s h . D e s p i t e s e v e r a l p l o t
s l a t t e r h a l f , t h e g r o u p m o s t l y e n j o y e d t h e
e a l i z e d c a s t o f c h a r a c t e r s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e
l e l e a d s . A s e x p e c t e d , e v e r y o n e f o u n d t h e
a s t r o n g c o n t e n t w a r n i n g , b u t n o t h i n g a
e R e a d i n g B a r ' s v e r d i c t — 8 o u t o f 1 0 .
B a r ' s u p c o m i n g e v e n t s :
c i a l l y k i c k i n g o f f n e x t m o n t h o n M o n d a y , f e a n d P u b ( 6 0 3 M a i n S t , V a n c o u v e r , W A
a l s o c i a l i z i n g , f o l l o w e d b y i n d e p e n d e n t
c . h n e d a t W h i t e O a k B o o k s t o d i s c u s s i t s
u l e d f o r M o n d a y , A p r i l 1 3 , 2 0 2 6 , a t 5 : 4 5 p . m . , V a n c o u v e r , W A 9 8 6 6 0 ) . U p n e x t o n t h e
t t a L a c k s b y R e b e c c a S k l o o t , a n o n - f i c t i o n
o r t a l c e l l l i n e , k n o w n a s H e L a , t h a t c a m e
h e b o o k e x p l o r e s i s s u e s o f r a c e , c l a s s , a n d
s p a r k t h o u g h t f u l d i s c u s s i o n
Adult Entertainment
The Reading
and
Clark County District Court
C C B A
President’s Message
B y N a t h a n P e t e r s e n
We h a d a l o w - ke y h o l i d a y w i t h s o m e f a m i l y i n to w n . We w e r e a b l e
to t a ke t h e k i d s to w a tc h t h e B l a z e r s b e a t t h e Ce l t i c s , w e h o s te d
L e a a ’ s f a m i l y C h r i s t m a s p a r t y t h e F r i d a y f o l l o w i n g C h r i s t m a s a n d ,
d e s p i te i n te n t i o n s o f s p e n d i n g N e w Ye a r ’ s E v e o n t h e to w n , w e
w o u n d u p s t a y i n g h o m e s o o u r 1 6 - y e a r - o l d c o u l d g o o u t a n d s e e
t h e f i n a l e p i s o d e o f S t r a n g e r T h i n g s i n t h e t h e a te r . We a l s o g o t t o
s e e t h e l o c a l l a w ye r b a n d , Wa r b a l l , p l a y a t t h e A t l a n t i s L o u n g e i n
P o r t l a n d .
I s t h e r e a n y d i s p u te t h a t t h e w o r s t d a y o f t h e y e a r i s t h e f i r s t d a y
b a c k i n t h e o f f i c e a f te r w i n te r b r e a k ? A l l t h e f u n h o l i d a y s b e h i n d
y o u . T h e l o o m i n g e n d o f t h e f o o t b a l l s e a s o n . T h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e
a r e n o m a j o r h o l i d a y s o r b r e a k s f o r m o n t h s to c o m e . D e s p i te a l l
t h a t , t h e r e i s a n i c e c a l m to t h i s s e a s o n M o r e t i m e a t h o m e a n d
m o r e t i m e w i t h f a mi l y.
A s f o r l i f e a t t h e C C B A , t h e S t r o l l P a t r o l h a s s e t s o m e n e w d a te s
f o r t h e n e w y e a r , t h e R e a d n g B a r i s m e e t i n g o n F e b r u a r y 9 t h , a n d
t h e N u t s a n d B o l t s C L E “ I n s i d e t h e J u r y B ox ” i s o n F e b r u a r y 1 1 t h .
We h o p e to s e e y o u t h e r e .
When Whitney Hawke was president, she would often share what she was reading, watching, listening to, etc . I always enjoyed that and want to keep it going:
Listening: EuroCountr y by CMAT Magic , Alive! By McKinley Dixon
Watching: 11.22.63 - A Stephen King adaptation about a man who has an oppor tunity to travel back in time to stop the assassination of John F Kennedy Sinners, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
We have a lot of great events coming up for the bar:
Thursday, Februar y 26th - Stroll Patrol Meet outside of Wheeler Boyd at Noon to stretch your legs and chat with f riends. This is a fun event that helps break up the day.
Saturday March 7th - Barrister ’s Ball. There are only a few tickets remaining. Reach out to Lisa to check availablity
Wednesday, March 11th - Business Valuation Nuts & Bolts CLE
Monday, March 16 - CCBA General Meeting and Lunch th
C C V L P P r e s e n t s : Q u i z f o r a C a u s e T r i v i a N i g h t
T
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.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
By Jean McCoy and Jesse Jacobs
N o w t h a t w e h a v e y o u r a t t e n t i o n , t h i s i s
n o t t h a t k i n d o f a r t i c l e . Y o u m a y h a v e
n o t i c e d t h a t a l o n g w i t h a n e w P i n b a l l
v e n u e i n d o w n t o w n V a n c o u v e r , m a n y i f
n o t m o s t e s t a b l i s h m e n t s a r e a l s o h o s t i n g
t r i v i a n i g h t a n d / o r b i n g o n i g h t , w i t h a l i t t l e
k a r a o k e t h r o w n i n . Y o u m a y g o f o r t h e
f o o d a n d d r i n k a n d s t a y f o r t h e f u n – o r
t h e o t h e r w a y a r o u n d . L e t ’ s e x p l o r e !
I f y o u h a v e n o t a l r e a d y b e e n t o t h e S i l v e r
B a l l S o c i a l C l u b o n t h e c o r n e r o f E v e r g r e e n
B o u l e v a r d a n d B r o a d w a y , i t i s a m u s t v i s i t .
Y o u r i n t r e p i d r e p o r t e r s w e n t a r o u n d t h e
h o l i d a y s , a n d i t w a s a c o m m o n v e n u e f o r
o f f i c e h o l i d a y p a r t i e s . A l o n g w i t h t h e r e t r o
f o o d c h o i c e s ( m u l t i p l e c o r n d o g o p t i o n s
a n y o n e ? ) t h e d r i n k s w e r e d i v e r s e w i t h f u n
n a m e s ( M s . P a c - M a n a n d L i f e F i n d s a
W a y ) . A d d t o t h a t f o r $ 1 2 . 0 0 y o u g e t a
w r i s t b a n d f o r u n l i m i t e d P i n b a l l p l a y . A s
y o u n g p l a y e r s w h o w o u l d w a s t e t h e i r
q u a r t e r s o n l y t o s e e t h a t s i l v e r b a l l p l u n g e
d i r e c t l y t o w a r d t h e e x i t , i t w a s r e f r e s h i n g
t o k e e p h i t t i n g r e s e t a n d p l a y o v e r a n d
o v e r .
N o t o n l y d o e s t h e S i l v e r B a l l S o c i a l C l u b
h o s t P i n b a l l T o u r n a m e n t s o n T u e s d a y
n i g h t s , b u t t h e r e i s a l s o B i n g o , T r i v i a a n d
K a r a o k e o n o t h e r n i g h t s . L o o k u p e v e n t s
h e r e :
h t t p s : / / s i l v e r b a l l s o c i a l c l u b . c o m / e v e n t s .
T h i s i s n o t y o u r c h i l d h o o d c o r n e r v i d e o
g a m e s h o p . N o o n e u n d e r 2 1 i s a l l o w e d .
T h e a g e r e s t r i c t i o n c u t s d o w n o n t h e
w h i n i n g a n d r u n n i n g a r o u n d , b u t o n l y a
l i t t l e b i t . E v e r y o n e l o o k s b e t t e r u n d e r n e o n
l i g h t s , s o p l a n y o u r n e x t g i r l s ’ n i g h t o r d a t e
n i g h t h e r e . T h e y a r e a l s o o p e n f o r B r u n c h
o n S u n d a y s f r o m 1 1 a m t o 3 p m ( t h e
l o a d e d h a s h b r o w n s l o o k a m a z i n g ) .
T h e n i f y o u f i n i s h y o u r P i n b a l l b u t y o u a r e n ’ t r e a d y t o g o
h o m e , a r o u n d t h e c o r n e r i s t h e F u l l H e a r t I r i s h P u b , o p e n
u n t i l 2 a m o n F r i d a y a n d S a t u r d a y . T h i s i s a r e a l l y a u t h e n t i c
I r i s h p u b a n d s o m e h o w t h e G u i n n e s s t a s t e s b e t t e r f r o m
t h e i r t a p . T h e I r i s h W h i s k e y c h o i c e s o n t h e m e n u i s
e x t e n s i v e a n d f o u r d i f f e r e n t f l a v o r s o f D r u m s h a n b o
G u n p o w d e r I r i s h G i n . T h i s v e n u e a l s o h o s t s t r i v i a a n d
b i n g o o n c e r t a i n n i g h t s , b u t t h e d r a w i s t h e a m b i a n c e o f
t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d I r i s h p u b . H a v e a T o a s t y o r G u i n e s s S t e w .
I f y o u h a v e n e v e r p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t r i v i a y o u m a y w a n t s o m e
t i p s o f t h e t r a d e . Y o u a r e b e s t t o i n c l u d e i n y o u r g r o u p b o t h
m e n a n d w o m e n , a n d f r o m d i v e r s e a g e g r o u p s t o a n s w e r
t h e d i f f e r e n t r a n g e o f q u e s t i o n s . T h e r e n e e d s t o b e
s o m e o n e w h o i s g o o d a t s p o r t s , h i s t o r y a n d c u r r e n t e v e n t s . R e m e m b e r T r i v i a P u r s u i t ? R e a d i n g t h o s e c a r d s i s a g o o d
s t a r t i n g p o i n t t o h o n e y o u r s k i l l s . T h e i n t e r n e t i s a l s o f u l l o f
t i p s a n d t r i c k s .
I f y o u a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t r i v i a n i g h t s , c h e c k o u t y o u r f a v o r i t e
p u b o r b a r a n d m o s t l i k e l y t h e r e i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r m o r e
a d u l t e n t e r t a i n m e n t . F i v e S t a r T r i v i a i s o n e o f t h e v e n d o r s
a n d y o u c a n l o o k d i r e c t l y o n t h e i r s i t e f o r t h e g i g n i g h t s : h t t p s : / / 5 s t a r t r i v i a . c o m /
Y o u r a u t h o r s o f B o t t o m ’ s U p w i l l j o i n y o u i f y o u t e l l u s w h e r e
y o u a r e g o i n g ( F u l l d i s c l a i m e r : N o g u a r a n t e e o n t h e
q u a l i t y o f o u r t r i v i a k n o w l e d g e , b u t w e w i l l b u y t h e f i r s t
r o u n d ! )
CCBA CONNECTS:
The Reading Bar
By Jason Rosenbaum
P l e a s e m a r k y o u r c a l e n d a r s f o r T h e R e a d i n g B a r ' s u p c o m i n g e v e n t s :
T h e R e a d i n g B a r ’ s S i l e n t B o o k C l u b i s o f f i c i a l l y k i c k i n g o f f n e x t m o n t h o n M o n d a y ,
M a r c h 9 , 2 0 2 6 , a t 5 : 4 5 p . m . a t B r e w e d C a f e a n d P u b ( 6 0 3 M a i n S t , V a n c o u v e r , W A
9 8 6 6 0 ) . J o i n u s a f t e r w o r k f o r s o m e c a s u a l s o c i a l i z i n g , f o l l o w e d b y i n d e p e n d e n t
r e a d i n g
T h e R e a d i n g B a r ' s n e x t m e e t i n g i s s c h e d u l e d f o r M o n d a y , A p r i l 1 3 , 2 0 2 6 , a t 5 : 4 5 p . m .
a t W h i t e O a k B o o k s ( 1 7 0 0 M a i n S t . , S u i t e D , V a n c o u v e r , W A 9 8 6 6 0 ) . U p n e x t o n t h e
r e a d i n g l i s t i s T h e I m m o r t a l L i f e o f H e n r i e t t a L a c k s b y R e b e c c a S k l o o t , a n o n - f i c t i o n
b o o k a b o u t H e n r i e t t a L a c k s a n d h e r i m m o r t a l c e l l l i n e , k n o w n a s H e L a , t h a t c a m e
f r o m L a c k ' s c e r v i c a l c a n c e r c e l l s i n 1 9 5 1 . T h e b o o k e x p l o r e s i s s u e s o f r a c e , c l a s s , a n d
e t h i c s i n m e d i c a l r e s e a r c h a n d i s s u r e t o s p a r k t h o u g h t f u l d i s c u s s i o n
NEW AND IMPROVED
CLARK COUNTY CLARK COUNTY
DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT COURT
By Courtney Mendoza (she/her)
Location: 210 East 13 Street th Vancouver, WA 98660
C l a r k C o u n t y D i s t r i c t C o u r t h a s
b e e n u p g r a d e d i n t o a n
e n t i r e l y n e w c o u r t h o u s e ! W h i l e
S u p e r i o r C o u r t w i l l c o n t i n u e t o
r e m a i n a t t h e c u r r e n t F r a n k l i n
S t r e e t l o c a t i o n , D i s t r i c t C o u r t
h a s o f f i c i a l l y m o v e d a s o f t h e
w e e k o f F e b r u a r y 5 , 2 0 2 6 . T h e
n e w D i s t r i c t C o u r t c o u r t h o u s e
i s l o c a t e d a t : 2 1 0 E a s t 1 3 t h
S t r e e t , V a n c o u v e r , W A 9 8 6 6 0 .
W h i l e s o m e m a y r e m e m b e r
t h i s b u i l d i n g a s t h e o l d C i t y
H a l l , i t l o o k s n o t h i n g l i k e i t d i d
i n t h o s e d a y s . T h e e n t i r e
b u i l d i n g h a s b e e n u p g r a d e d
a n d f e e l s b r a n d n e w ! T h e r e
a r e s t i l l m a n y m o v i n g p a r t s a s
t h i s o n g o i n g t r a n s i t i o n p r o j e c t
c o n t i n u e s , b u t t h e u p g r a d e s
a r e e x c i t i n g a n d f o l k s a r e
e n c o u r a g e d t o c o m e c h e c k
o u t t h e n e w p l a c e !
T h e H o n o r a b l e M e g a n P e y t o n
D i s t r i c t C o u r t J u d g e M e g a n
P e y t o n w a s c e l e b r a t e d b y
c o l l e a g u e s , f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s a t
h e r I n v e s t i t u r e C e r e m o n y o n
J a n u a r y 8 a t t h e C l a r k C o u n t y
C o u r t h o u s e
P e y t o n w a s c h o s e n b y t h e C l a r k
C o u n t y C o u n c i l l a s t f a l l t o
r e p l a c e K e l l i O s l e r , w h o r e t i r e d .
P e y t o n s a i d s h e w a s h o n o r e d t o
r e p l a c e O s l e r , a d d i n g t h a t i t i s
c r a z y O s l e r w a s t h e f i r s t f e m a l e
j u d g e i n D i s t r i c t C o u r t w h e n s h e
w a s a p p o i n t e d i n 2 0 1 0 . O f t h e s i x
D i s t r i c t C o u r t j u d g e s , f o u r a r e
w o m e n .
S h e t h a n k e d t h e s e v e r a l D i s t r i c t
a n d S u p e r i o r C o u r t j u d g e s i n
a t t e n d a n c e , t e l l i n g e a c h o n e
w h a t s h e a d m i r e d a b o u t t h e m .
S h e s a i d s h e h a s l e a r n e d f r o m
a l l o f t h e m o v e r t h e y e a r s a n d i s
l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o w o r k i n g w i t h
t h e m
S h e t o l d t h e c r o w d e d c o u r t r o o m
t h a t s h e a p p r e c i a t e d s o m a n y
c u r r e n t a n d f o r m e r c o l l e a g u e s
a t t e n d i n g t h e c e r e m o n y a n d
t h a t i t r e f l e c t s w e l l o n t h e l o c a l
b a r a s s o c i a t i o n t h a t s h e h a s
l a u g h e d s o m u c h i n h e r 2 0 - y e a r
c a r e e r .
“ T h e r e a r e m a n y t i m e s I ’ v e
t h o u g h t , o r s a i d t o o t h e r p e o p l e ,
t h a t I e n j o y c o m i n g t o w o r k
e a c h d a y , ” s h e s a i d . “ I e n j o y
s o l v i n g p r o b l e m s , I e n j o y
l e a r n i n g n e w t h i n g s a n d
t e a c h i n g n e w t h i n g s t o o t h e r
B Y S T E P H A N I E R I C E
p e o p l e . I ’ v e s p e n t m o r e t i m e e a c h d a y f i n d i n g s o m e t h i n g t o l a u g h a b o u t
t h a n t o c r y a b o u t a n d t h a t ’ s , m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , b e c a u s e o f t h e p e o p l e I ’ v e
w o r k e d w i t h . ”
P e y t o n m o s t r e c e n t l y w o r k e d a s a s u p e r v i s i n g a t t o r n e y a t V a n c o u v e r
D e f e n d e r s .
S u p e r i o r C o u r t J u d g e R o b e r t L e w i s , w h o s p o k e a t t h e c e r e m o n y , s a i d w h e n h e
l e a r n e d P e y t o n w a s g o i n g t o b e a D i s t r i c t C o u r t j u d g e , h e t h o u g h t i t w a s a
p e r f e c t f i t . H e ’ d o b s e r v e d P e y t o n m a n a g i n g t h e f i r s t a p p e a r a n c e d o c k e t i n
S u p e r i o r C o u r t , w h e r e s h e w o u l d h a v e t o t a l k t o m u l t i p l e p e o p l e , q u i c k l y g i v e
t h e m a d v i c e a n d r e v i e w m a t e r i a l t o m a k e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o n r e l e a s e . H e
a l s o s i n g l e d o u t h e r e x t e n s i v e w o r k h e l p i n g p e o p l e w h o h a d S t a t e v . B l a k e -
r e l a t e d d r u g p o s s e s s i o n c o n v i c t i o n s g e t r e l i e f . T h a t w a s n ’ t a s s i m p l e a s f i l l i n g
o u t a f o r m , h e s a i d P e y t o n h a d t o r e v i e w t h o u s a n d s o f c a s e s a n d d r a f t
o r d e r s s p e c i f i c t o e a c h c a s e
H e p r e d i c t e d s h e ’ l l d o w e l l o n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t b e n c h , w h e r e j u d g e s m u s t w o r k q u i c k l y .
“ I t ’ s k n o w i n g t h e l a w , k n o w i n g h o w t o d o t h i n g s i n c o u r t , h a n d l i n g y o u r s e l f i n
c o u r t a n d d e a l i n g w i t h h i g h - p r e s s u r e , h i g h v o l u m e - s i t u a t i o n s , ” L e w i s s a i d .
P e y t o n g r a d u a t e d f r o m W i l l a m e t t e U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e o f L a w i n 2 0 0 7 .
V a n c o u v e r D e f e n d e r s a t t o r n e y N e i l A n d e r s o n r e c a l l e d w h e n P e y t o n w o r k e d
w i t h h i m a t h i s a u n t J a n A n d e r s o n ’ s p r a c t i c e r i g h t o u t o f l a w s c h o o l . H e s a i d
t h e d e f e n s e b a r ’ s l o s s i s t h e j u d i c i a r y ’ s g a i n .
“ E v e n b a c k t h e n , a s a R u l e 9 , s h e h a d a m i n d o f h e r o w n , ” A n d e r s o n s a i d . “ S h e w a s n ’ t s h y , i n f a c t s h e w a s e a g e r t o d i s a g r e e w i t h s e n i o r a t t o r n e y s . ”
H e s a i d c r i m i n a l d e f e n s e a t t o r n e y s o f t e n a r e t a l k i n g t o c l i e n t s w h o a r e h a v i n g t h e w o r s t d a y o f t h e i r l i v e s a n d t h a t s t r e s s c a n b u r n s o m e a t t o r n e y s o u t .
“ M e g a n d i d n o t b u r n o u t . S h e t h r i v e d , ” A n d e r s o n s a i d . “ I ’ m n o t o r i o u s f o r
t e l l i n g p e o p l e , ‘ D o n ’ t f a l l i n l o v e w i t h a p r o b l e m . S o l v e t h e p r o b l e m . ’ I n e v e r
h a d t o t e l l M e g a n t h a t b e c a u s e s h e k n e w i t l o n g b e f o r e I m e t h e r . ”
A n d e r s o n m e n t i o n e d a s e r i o u s f e l o n y P e y t o n w o r k e d w i t h h i m o n t h a t e n d e d
w i t h a g r e a t d e a l f o r t h e c l i e n t . H e s a i d h e w o u l d n ’ t h a v e b e e n a b l e t o d o i t
w i t h o u t h e r , a n d t h a t t h e c l i e n t w a s s o g r a t e f u l h e s t i l l c a l l s t h e o f f i c e o n c e a
m o n t h t o t e l l P e y t o n a b o u t h i s l i f e .
“ N o w I ’ l l h a v e t o t a k e t h o s e c a l l s , ” A n d e r s o n l a m e n t e d .
A n d e r s o n ’ s a u n t ’ s f i r m m e r g e d w i t h J e f f B a r r a r ’ s V a n c o u v e r D e f e n d e r s .
P e y t o n l a t e r l e f t V a n c o u v e r D e f e n d e r s t o w o r k a t G r e e n e n & G r e e n e n b e f o r e
r e j o i n i n g V a n c o u v e r D e f e n d e r s .
S h e r e t u r n e d t o V a n c o u v e r D e f e n d e r s a f t e r t e l l i n g B a r r a r , a f e w y e a r s a f t e r
s h e b e c a m e a m o t h e r , t h a t s h e ’ d b e e n s t r e s s e d w o n d e r i n g h o w s h e w a s
g o i n g t o c o n t i n u e p r a c t i c i n g l a w w i t h o u t l o s i n g h e r m i n d .
“ H e s a i d , ‘ C o m e o n b a c k , a n d w e ’ l l f i g u r e i t o u t ’ A n d C h r i s t i e a n d I d i d , ” s h e
s a i d , r e f e r r i n g t o t h e n - m a n a g i n g p a r t n e r C h r i s t i e E d w a r d s .
S h e t h e n a d d r e s s e d E d w a r d s , w h o t o o k o v e r f r o m B a r r a r a f t e r h e r e t i r e d i n
A p r i l 2 0 2 0 .
“ I w i l l r e p e a t t h a t a g a i n . A p r i l o f 2 0 2 0 . Y o u h a d a f i f t h g r a d e r , a k i n d e r g a r t n e r
a n d 2 0 o t h e r c h i l d r e n , w e ’ l l c a l l t h e m l a w y e r s , a n d i t w a s a w o r l d w i d e
p a n d e m i c . Y o u k e p t t h e o f f i c e r u n n i n g . Y o u k e p t e v e r y o n e e m p l o y e d … i t h a s
b e e n a n h o n o r t o s i t n e x t t o y o u . ”
A f t e r s h e w a s s w o r n i n b y J u d g e K r i s t e n
P a r c h e r , P e y t o n w a s h e l p e d i n t o h e r
r o b e b y h e r h u s b a n d G r i f f i n , d a u g h t e r s
H a d l e y , 1 4 , a n d E m m a , 6 , a n d s o n ,
G r a y s o n , 1 2 .
S h e t h a n k e d h e r c h i l d r e n f o r t h e i r
p a t i e n c e w i t h h e r j o b a n d s a i d t h e y h a v e
o c c a s i o n a l l y b e e n a t t h e c o u r t h o u s e t o
w a i t f o r h e r t o h a n d l e a c a s e o r a t h o m e ,
w a i t i n g f o r h e r t o f i n i s h w i t h a Z o o m
m e e t i n g .
S h e a l s o t h a n k e d h e r h u s b a n d , G r i f f i n ,
w h o m s h e s t a r t e d d a t i n g a s u n d e r g r a d
s t u d e n t s a t W e s t e r n W a s h i n g t o n
U n i v e r s i t y i n 2 0 0 0 .
“ T h e r e ’ s n o o n e i n t h i s r o o m t h a t ’ s
w a n t e d t h i s m o r e f o r m e o r p u s h e d m e
m o r e t o d o t h i s , ” s h e s a i d . “ Y o u a r e t h e
d r e a m e r i n o u r f a m i l y . I k n o w m a n y
t i m e s I ’ v e b e e n e x a s p e r a t e d p r o b a b l y b y
t h i s a n d q u e s t i o n e d y o u r s a n i t y a s t o
w h y y o u t h o u g h t w e c o u l d d o a l l o f i t ,
b u t y o u d i d n o t l e t u p o n m e . Y o u t o l d
m e I c o u l d d o t h i s , s o I s h o u l d d o t h i s . ”
A b o u t t h e A u t h o r : S t e p h a n i e R i c e h a s w o r k e d a s a n i n v e s t i g a t o r f o r V a n c o u v e r
D e f e n d e r s s i n c e 2 0 1 5 a n d p r e v i o u s l y w o r k e d a s a r e p o r t e r f o r T h e C o l u m b i a n
The Trial Whisperer A series of articles by Brad Andersen
F o r m o r e t h a n t h r e e d e c a d e s , I ’ v e s t o o d b e f o r e j u r i e s , j u d g e s , a n d o t h e r
d e c i s i o n - m a k e r s - f i r s t a s a p r o s e c u t o r , a n d l a t e r i n a w i d e r a n g e o f c i v i l c a s e s .
W h a t I ’ v e l e a r n e d
G o w d y p u t s i t , “ c h a n c e f a v o r s t h e p r e p a r e d m i n d . ” E x p e r i e n c e i s t h e g r e a t
t e a c h e r , t h o u g h t o o o f t e n i t i s w h a t w e g a i n r i g h t a f t e r w e m o s t n e e d e d i t .
M a n y o f t h e l e s s o n s I s h a r e h e r e a r e t h i n g s I w i s h I h a d d o n e b e t t e r , e a r l i e r ,
a n d m o r e o f t e n .
T h i s f i v e - p a r t s e r i e s i s a b o u t t h o s e c h o i c e s a n d m i s s e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s M y
g o a l i s n o t t o o f f e r t h e o r y f o r t h e o r y ’ s s a k e , b u t p r a c t i c a l g u i d a n c e d r a w n
f r o m e x p e r i e n c e , m i s t a k e s a n d f r o m s o m e o f t h e g r e a t t r i a l t e a c h e r s o f o u r
t i m e o n h o w t o p i c k t h e r i g h t c a s e s , f r a m e t h e m w i t h p u r p o s e , c o n d u c t
d i s c o v e r y s t r a t e g i c a l l y , p r e p a r e w i t h c o m p e l l i n g t h e m e s a n d w i t n e s s e s , a n d
f i n a l l y , p r e s e n t a s t o r y t h a t e m p o w e r s t h e j u r y t o w r i t e t h e i r o w n e n d i n g t h a t
f a v o r s y o u r s i d e .
Part 3 – “The Will to Win Is Not Nearly as Important as the Will to Prepare to Win” - Vince Lombardi
C h a n c e f a v o r s t h e p r e p a r e d m i n d .
T h e c o u r t r o o m h a s a l w a y s a t t r a c t e d
m y t h s W e i m a g i n e t h e g r e a t t r i a l l a w y e r
a s a s i l v e r - t o n g u e d o r a t o r , c o n f i d e n t a n d
c h a r i s m a t i c , w i n n i n g j u r i e s w i t h a w a v e
o f t h e h a n d a n d a b o o m i n g v o i c e
H o w e v e r , i n m y e x p e r i e n c e , a n d b a s e d
o n t h e l e s s o n s o f s o m e o f t h e b e s t
t e a c h e r s i n o u r c r a f t , t h o s e t h i n g s a r e
s e c o n d a r y – c a s e s a r e w o n m a i n l y b y
t h o s e w h o h a v e o u t p r e p a r e d t h e i r
o p p o n e n t .
T h e l a w y e r w h o w i n s i s n o t a l w a y s t h e
o n e w h o s p e a k s l o u d l y , d r e s s e s t h e
“ C a s e s a r e w o n m a i n l y b y t h o s e w h o h a v e o u t p r e p a r e d t h e i r o p p o n e n t . ”
HEADER (CHANGE ON MASTER B)
s h a r p e s t , o r c h a r m s t h e j u r y . T h e
l a w y e r w h o w i n s i s t h e o n e w h o h a s
p r e p a r e d t h e h a r d e s t . R i c k
F r i e d m a n i n B e c o m i n g a T r i a l
L a w y e r , r e m i n d s u s t h a t h e h a s
n e v e r c o n s i d e r e d h i m s e l f a g r e a t
s p e a k e r h e d e s c r i b e s h i m s e l f a s
s h y , s o m e t i m e s a w k w a r d b u t h e
h a s w o n e x t r a o r d i n a r y c a s e s
b e c a u s e h e p r e p a r e s r e l e n t l e s s l y .
H e l e a v e s n o t h i n g t o c h a n c e .
P u r p o s e - d r i v e n l i t i g a t i o n a n d
d i s c o v e r y p l a n
P r e p a r a t i o n i s n o t a b o u t d o i n g
e v e r y t h i n g . I t i s a b o u t d o i n g t h e
r i g h t t h i n g s , w i t h p u r p o s e , a g a i n
a n d a g a i n . T o o o f t e n , l a w y e r s
c o n f u s e a c t i v i t y w i t h p r e p a r a t i o n
b u r y i n g t h e o t h e r s i d e i n
p a p e r w o r k , s c h e d u l i n g d e p o s i t i o n s
w i t h o u t a p l a n , o r d e m a n d i n g e v e r y
p o s s i b l e d o c u m e n t “ j u s t i n c a s e ”
w h i c h m o s t l y w a s t e s t i m e , i r r i t a t e s
j u d g e s , a n d i n c u r s e x c e s s i v e c o s t s
f o r c l i e n t s .
I n h i s b o o k , W i n n i n g Y o u r J u r y ,
R o b e r t K l e i n t e a c h e s t h a t t r i a l
l a w y e r s m u s t p l a n t h e i r c a s e s l i k e
m i l i t a r y c a m p a i g n s c h o o s i n g
b a t t l e s c a r e f u l l y , c o n s e r v i n g
r e s o u r c e s , a n d a l w a y s
r e m e m b e r i n g t h e o b j e c t i v e
C h a r l e s R o s e i n A d v o c a c y C a s e
F i l e s , r e m i n d s u s t h a t e v e r y p i e c e o f
d i s c o v e r y s h o u l d s e r v e t h e s t o r y
y o u a r e b u i l d i n g f o r t r i a l . I f i t
d o e s n ’ t , i t ’ s a d i s t r a c t i o n . “ E v e r y p i e c e o f d i s c o v e r y s h o u l d
s e r v e t h e s t o r y y o u a r e b u i l d i n g f o r
t r i a l . I f i t d o e s n ’ t , i t ’ s a d i s t r a c t i o n . ”
C h a r l e s R o s e
T h e B a t t l e P l a n
K n o w w h a t w e a p o n s y o u h a v e i n y o u r a r s e n a l , b u t
d o n ’ t u s e a l l o f t h e m :
W i t n e s s I n t e r v i e w s : T a l k t o e v e r y w i t n e s s w h o
m a t t e r s D o n ’ t j u s t c o l l e c t n a m e s c o l l e c t s t o r i e s ,
c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , a n d c o n t e x t
S u b p o e n a s : T h i n k c a r e f u l l y a b o u t w h a t r e c o r d s y o u
w i l l n e e d t o p r o v e y o u r s t o r y S u b p o e n a e a r l y s o
y o u ’ r e n o t s c r a m b l i n g o n t h e e v e o f t r i a l
D e p o s i t i o n s : D i s c o v e r y d e p o s i t i o n s a r e n o t a b o u t
b o x - c h e c k i n g . T h e y a r e a b o u t s c u l p t i n g t h e
t e s t i m o n y y o u ’ l l u s e a t t r i a l . F r a n c i s W e l l m a n w o u l d
s a y : n e v e r a s k a q u e s t i o n a t t r i a l w i t h o u t k n o w i n g
t h e a n s w e r s o m a k e s u r e y o u l e a r n t h e a n s w e r s
n o w .
R e q u e s t s f o r A d m i s s i o n s / m o t i o n s f o r p a r t i a l
s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t : T h e s e a r e u n d e r u s e d b u t
p o w e r f u l . F o r c e y o u r o p p o n e n t t o c o n c e d e w h a t
s h o u l d n o t b e d i s p u t e d , s o t h e t r i a l i s a b o u t w h a t
m a t t e r s .
E x p e r t s : R e a d e v e r y t h i n g y o u r e x p e r t h a s w r i t t e n
a n d e v e r y t h i n g a b o u t t h e o p p o s i n g e x p e r t C r o s s -
e x a m i n a t i o n o f e x p e r t s i s w o n i n t h e l i b r a r y , n o t i n
t h e c o u r t r o o m
D o c u m e n t s : R e a d t h e r e c o r d t w i c e T h e n r e a d i t
a g a i n . T o o m a n y l a w y e r s w a l k i n t o t r i a l n e v e r
h a v i n g s t u d i e d t h e i r o w n e x h i b i t s c a r e f u l l y .
Crossexaminati on of experts is won in the library, not in the courtroom
T h e s e s t e p s a r e n o t g l a m o r o u s T h e y w o n ’ t m a k e h e a d l i n e s B u t t h e y a r e h o w y o u
b u i l d t h e a r s e n a l y o u w i l l n e e d w h e n y o u w a l k i n t o t r i a l
F a c t s A r e t h e A m m u n i t i o n
T r i a l s a r e n o t w o n b y r h e t o r i c a l o n e . T h e y a r e w o n w i t h f a c t s c a r e f u l l y g a t h e r e d , o r g a n i z e d , a n d d e p l o y e d a t t h e r i g h t t i m e . R o b e r t B u r n s r e m i n d s u s t h a t t r i a l i s m o r a l d r a m a , b u t e v e n d r a m a r e q u i r e s p r o p s , d i a l o g u e , a n d d e t a i l s . P r e p a r a t i o n i s h o w y o u m a k e s u r e t h e f a c t s y o u n e e d a r e i n t h e r e c o r d , r e a d y t o b e u s e d .
T h e b e s t c l o s i n g a r g u m e n t s a r e n o t i m p r o v i s e d t h e y a r e c o n s t r u c t e d o n t h e
f o u n d a t i o n o f f a c t s y o u h a v e s p e n t m o n t h s g a t h e r i n g . T h e b e s t c r o s s -
e x a m i n a t i o n s a r e n o t w i t t y r e t o r t s t h e y a r e t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f d e p o s i t i o n s ,
r e s e a r c h , a n d p l a n n i n g .
T h e D i s c i p l i n e t o P r e p a r e
A b r a h a m L i n c o l n p u t i t t h i s w a y : “ G i v e m e s i x h o u r s t o c h o p d o w n a t r e e a n d I w i l l
s p e n d t h e f i r s t f o u r s h a r p e n i n g t h e a x e . ”
P r e p a r a t i o n i s n o t e a s y I t t a k e s d i s c i p l i n e t o k e e p r e a d i n g , k e e p q u e s t i o n i n g ,
k e e p d r a f t i n g , k e e p p l a n n i n g I t i s e a s i e r t o a s s u m e y o u a l r e a d y k n o w e n o u g h
B u t t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n “ g o o d e n o u g h ” a n d “ f u l l y p r e p a r e d ” i s o f t e n t h e
d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n w i n n i n g a n d l o s i n g T h e j u r y w i l l o n l y f o l l o w y o u r t r a i l t o a j u s t v e r d i c t i f y o u c a n d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t y o u h a v e t h o r o u g h l y s c o p e d o u t t h e f o r e s t
R i c k F
C o n c l u s i o n : S h a r p e n i n g t h e A x e
T h e w i l l t o w i n m a k e s u s c o m p e t i t i v e . B u t , t h e w i l l t o p r e p a r e t o w i n m a k e s u s e f f e c t i v e w h e n i t m a t t e r s m o s t - w h e n t h e j u r y w a l k s
i n t o t h e b o x a n d t h e j u d g e g a v e l s i n t h e t r i a l .
T h e l e s s o n f o r t r i a l l a w y e r s i s c l e a r . W i n n i n g
i s n o t a l w a y s a b o u t c h a r i s m a o r t h e a t r i c s . I t i s a b o u t p r e p a r a t i o n t h e q u i e t , d i s c i p l i n e d , s o m e t i m e s t e d i o u s w o r k o f g a t h e r i n g f a c t s , m a s t e r i n g t h e r e c o r d , a n d b u i l d i n g a b a t t l e p l a n T h a t i s w h a t t u r n s o r d i n a r y a d v o c a t e s i n t o s o l i d i f n o t e x t r a o r d i n a r y t r i a l l a w y e r s
e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h i n g s . ” Brad Andersen has been a trial attorney in Southwest Washington for more than thirty years and has learned the hard way how to take a case f rom start to f inish. For questions or advice you can reach Brad at (360) 638-3007 or brad@bradandersenlaw.com
Clark County Superior Court
BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
February 10, 2025
Persons in attendance: Judge Camara Banfield (Camera.Banfield@clark.wa.gov), Jessi Anderson (jessi@ ccvlp.org), Rachel Brooks (rachel@guardianshiplawgroup.com) Alexander Reaganson (alexander.reaganson@ 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, February 10th at 12:00. Please email Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp.org) for the Zoom link if you would like to attend.
Meeting commenced: 12:05 pm Meeting adjourned:12:15 pm
Meeting Updates:
Court updates: Judge Banfield:
Civil:
Civil continuance policy came out- it’s on the Superior Court Website, hopefully sent out to the various bar associations. This will likely also be incorporated in our LCRs so that attorneys outside our jurisdiction have access to the information as well.
Specifically with regard to unlawful detainer matters, the court is having a hard time with the way that UDA orders are coming in. Some are coming in hard copy, some are coming in emails, often times they are coming in duplicate ways and that’s causing confusion. We need to come up with a more reformed process for submitting orders.
For example, sometimes an attorney in court will present a hard copy of an order, while their legal assistant is also sending an electronic copy of the order.
This is an issue specific to orders at this time, as briefings come in a variety of ways.
Please make sure that if orders are being emailed after the docket that they are being sent to the unlawful detainer email box (udexparte@clark.wa.gov) and not to the judge’s judicial assistant. Before an attorney sends orders to the above email address they must have signed the User Agreement for Ex Parte Email Address (agreement language found below following the end of notes).
Mock Trial coming up next week (February 18th & 19th).
They are still short on judges. There is need for judges for the Wednesday 11:00, Thursday 11:00, 2:30, 5:30 sessions. Please email Judge Fairgrieve if you would like to volunteer to be a judge.
Guardianship/Probate bar: Rachel Brooks
Upcoming training: The Guardianship and Probate bar is hosting a training on February 24th at noon for a presentation by the Office of Public Guardianship. The Office of Public Guardianship has had a pilot program for many years and in the last handful of years they have started taking cases out of Clark County. Please watch for information on this training or contact Rachel Brooks with questions.
Northwest Justice Project: Alexander Reaganson
Regarding criminal reentry matters: there have been pro se litigants trying to do Blake vacates on their own who have been turned away from the clerk’s office after being told that they “had” to have an attorney to proceed with a State v. Blake vacate action.
Mr. Reaganson will forward the clerk’s email rejection to Judge Banfield for the court/clerk meeting.
Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program: Jessi Anderson
CCVLP’s Record Vacating and LFO clinic program is reopening. Any attorneys interested in volunteering in this clinic please email Mia Demay (mia@ccvlp.org). There will be a free training for attorneys interested in the subject area on Monday, March 2nd from 10:00-11:00 AM. Please reach out to Mia if you’d like to attend.
Respectfully submitted,
Jessi Anderson
Clark County Bar Association
CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING
January 6, 2026
Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting January 6, 2026
1. Called to order 12:06 pm, Petersen, Rapp, Melnick, Larson, Busby, Mendoza, Sherman, Executive Director Darco.
2. Approval of December 2, 2025 board meeting minutes: (Melnick/Rapp), Approved
3. Treasurer's Report: (Melnick) Dues revenue is a few thousand dollars down, overall income is down as is consistent with this time of the fiscal year. Expenses are up. Ben is working on a proposal for section funds. Taxes are being worked on.
4. To Discuss
a. Membership Update (Darco): Current: 375 members, 83 have not renewed from last year, 17 are new members to the CCBA. Last year on January 1st we had 410 members. Staff memberships 41, 43 total last year.
b. CCBA employee wage increase due to minimum wage change (Mendoza/Rapp) Approved
c. WSBA Speak Up for Justice event: The WSBA will host this event in Vancouver. Details to come.
Adjourned 12:35 pm
