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
January Hearsay Contributors
Ben Melnick Schauermann Thayer
Ben Melnick is a partner at Schauermann Thayer, where he handles personal injury, wrongful death, and insurance bad faith matters.
Jason Rosenbaum
Chenoweth Law Group, P.C.
Jason focuses his practice on real estate, business and commercial, and construction litigation. Jason represents both plaintiffs and defendants.
Jean Mccoy Landerholm, P.S
Jean McCoy’s practice focus is real estate transactions and conflict resolution, landlord/tenant and creditors’ rights.
We protect what our clients value most.
McKinley Irvin attorneys are known for their relentless pursuit of successful results, whether representing individuals in financially complex divorce or high conflict parenting disputes. But perhaps our most noted distinction is our steadfast commitment to protecting what our clients value most.
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 .
C C B A
G U A R D I A N S H I P
P R O B A T E A N D
E L D E R L A W
S E C T I O N C L E
T o p i c : O f f i c e o f P u b l i c G u a r d i a n T r a i n i n g
D a t e : F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 2 6
T i m e : 1 2 p m - 1 p m
P r e s e n t e r : S a m a r M a l i k ( h e / h i m ) - O P G
P r o g r a m N a v i g a t o r | O f f i c e o f
G u a r d i a n s h i p a n d E l d e r S e r v i c e s
L o c a t i o n : Z o o m
T h i s C L E w i l l b e f r e e f o r s e c t i o n m e m b e r s
a n d $ 1 0 f o r n o n - s e c t i o n m e m b e r s .
BILLABLE MILES
BY BEN MELNICK
W a t e r f r o n t , a n d s e t o f f t o w a r d t h e C o n f l u e n c e L a n d
B r i d g e . W e w o u n d a r o u n d t h e F o r t a n d P e a r s o n A i r f i e l d , p r e t e n d i n g l i k e w e w e r e n ’ t w i n d e d . T h e m a s q u e r a d e w a s o v e r a s w e h u f f e d a n d p u f f e d u p t h e p a r a d e g r o u n d s , f i n a l l y s t e a d y i n g o u r b r e a t h s n e a r t h e G r a n t H o u s e . W e ( s a f e l y ) m a d e o u r w a y d o w n
E v e r g r e e n B o u l e v a r d , t h a n k f u l f o r t h e g r a v i t y - a s s i s t e d d e s c e n t p a s t T h e C o l u m b i a n , a n d f i n a l l y b a c k t o w h e r e i t a l l s t a r t e d .
R u n n i n g s h o u l d n o t b e i n t i m i d a t i n g , a n d o u r r a g t a g b u n c h w a s p r o o f t h a t l i t e r a l l y a n y o n e c a n s h u f f l e a r o u n d f o r f o r t y m i n u t e s
O f c o u r s e , w e n e e d e d t o r e p l e n i s h o u r l o s t c a r b s . T h e c h e e s y b r e a d a n d b e e r s a t
R u s e B r e w i n g C r u s t C o l l e c t i v e d i d t h e t r i c k .
W e p l a n t o m e e t u p p e r i o d i c a l l y . P l a n s f o r a n o t h e r m e e t u p a r e a l w a y s i n t h e w o r k s .
W e ’ d l i k e t o g e t a l u n c h t i m e r u n o r g a n i z e d . W e ’ d l i k e t o d o a n o t h e r h a p p y h o u r .
M o s t l y , w e j u s t w a n t t o r u n w h e n w e c a n w i t h o t h e r l a w y e r s .
T h e e m a i l t h r e a d h a s a b o u t t w e n t y b r a v e s o u l s , b a t t l i n g i n j u r y a n d e x c u s e t o t r y a n d f i n d t h e t i m e t o c o m e o u t . W e ’ d l o v e t o h a v e y o u o n t h a t l i s t . C o n t a c t L i s a D a r c o o r
m e ( b e n m @ s t l a w c o m ) t o b e a d d e d P a c e d o e s n o t m a t t e r E x p e r i e n c e d o e s n o t
m a t t e r . W e j u s t w a n t g o o d v i b e s . A n d i f y o u a r e n ’ t i n t o r u n n i n g , j o i n u s f o r a h a p p y h o u r a n y w a y !
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.
S H O W I N G U P
L O O K S D I F F E R E N T
I N D E C E M B E R
Service projects don’t always look like group photos and packed calendars. Sometimes it’s a few people, a shopping list, and a commitment to just… do the thing.
That’s what happened in late December when the CCBA DEI Committee partnered with the Dandelion Tea House for a community pantry service day.
It wasn’t a big crowd. It didn’t need to be. What mattered was that help arrived.
One of our volunteers shared a recap that said it plainly: “the committee collected $900 in cash donations and several boxes of pantry staples.” The funds went straight to work. Mila Boyd and Pam Finch handled the store run just the two of them. No entourage. No committees-within-committees. Just a long day of shopping, loading carts, unloading carts, and then doing it again.
And honestly? That part deserves its own standing ovation.
After the shopping marathon, the pantry got restocked and 126 meal kits were packed for community members who rely on the pantry for a warm, reliable dinner option. There were extra pantry items donated, too. The kind that quietly stretch a little longer than anyone expects.
The volunteer email ended with the most important line of all: “Thank you all for your time, funds, and/or items to make this community project happen!”
No frills. Just gratitude. The real kind. The kind you feel when you’re tired at the end of a good day.
DEI didn’t measure success by attendance. We measured it in kits packed, shelves filled, and the willingness to show up even when the RSVP list is short
Late December reminded us of something simple and true community care doesn’t require a crowd. It requires people who care. And this time, it looked a lot like volunteers in checkout lines and around packing tables, doing more than most folks ever see, for neighbors most of us will never meet.
That’s the work. Quiet, unglamorous, necessary. And deeply CCBA.
If you’re interested in joining the CCBA DEI Committee, contact Deb Wechselblatt or Courtney Mendoza.
CCBA CONNECTS:
The Reading Bar
By Jason Rosenbaum
O n D e c e m b e r 8 , 2 0 2 5 , t h e C C B A R e a d i n g B a r c o n v e n e d a t W h i t e
O a k B o o k s o n t h e c o r n e r o f M a i n S t r e e t a n d W e s t M c L o u g h l i n
B o u l e v a r d t o d i s c u s s C o d e d J u s t i c e , a t h r i l l e r b y t h e t a l e n t e d S t a c e y
A b r a m s . T h e g r o u p ' s c o n s e n s u s w a s t h a t S t a c e y A b r a m s ' t h i r d
e n t r y i n t h e A v e r y K e e n e s e r i e s i s a u n i q u e d e l v e i n t o t h e e t h i c s o f
a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e a n d d a t a p r i v a c y t h a t i s m a r r e d b y p o o r
p a c i n g , l u k e w a r m r o m a n c e , a n d f o r c e d m e l o d r a m a t h a t f a i l s t o
i n j e c t a n y i n t r i g u e i n t o a n o t h e r w i s e s t e r i l e c a s t o f c h a r a c t e r s .
D e s p i t e t h e t e d i o u s s t a r t , t h e n o v e l ' s e x c i t i n g f i n a l a c t i s w o r t h t h e
c l i m b . T h e R e a d i n g B a r ' s v e r d i c t 7 o u t o f 1 0 .
O n F e b r u a r y 9 , 2 0 2 6 , a t 5 : 4 5 p m t h e R e a d i n g B a r w i l l r e c o n v e n e 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 s e c o n d b o o k P r e t t y G i r l s , a m u r d e r
m y s t e r y b y t h e a p t l y n a m e d K a r i n S l a u g h t e r . F e e l f r e e t o j o i n u s t o
Life of a Juror
By Jean McCoy
I s e e m t o b e c a l l e d f o r j u r y
d u t y a r o u n d e v e r y t h r e e o r
f o u r y e a r s . T h e o n l y t i m e I
w a s e v e r s e a t e d o n a j u r y
w a s i n 1 9 9 6 a f t e r I f i r s t
s t a r t e d p r a c t i c i n g . T h e c a s e
w a s a c r i m i n a l c a s e i n f r o n t
o f J u d g e T o m L o d g e a n d
w a s a T h i r d - d e g r e e R a p e
c a s e . I w a s p r e t t y f a r b a c k
o n t h e l i s t , b u t o n l y o n e
c h a l l e n g e w a s l e f t b y t h e
t i m e i t m a d e i t t o m y
n u m b e r a n d i t w a s b e t w e e n
m e a n d t h e r a p e c o u n s e l o r .
I g u e s s I s e e m e d t o b e t h e
b e t t e r c h o i c e c o n s i d e r i n g
t h e t y p e o f c a s e .
T h e c a s e d e a l t w i t h a v i c t i m a n d a d e f e n d a n t w h e r e i t w a s u n c e r t a i n
w h e t h e r e i t h e r p a r t y u n d e r s t o o d w h a t t h e c h a r g e s m e a n t . O u r j u r y s t r u g g l e d
w i t h t h e c h a r g e b u t w e r e t o l d w e c o u l d n o t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t f a c t s w e d i d
n o t h a v e . W e u l t i m a t e l y v o t e d t o f i n d t h e d e f e n d a n t g u i l t y . A f t e r t h e t r i a l
w a s o v e r a n d t h e j u r y w a s e x c u s e d , J u d g e L o d g e i n v i t e d u s b a c k i n t o t h e
C o u r t r o o m t o a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s o r t a l k a b o u t o u r v e r d i c t . W e f o u n d t h a t t h i s
d e f e n d a n t a l r e a d y h a d t w o s t r i k e s w i t h s i m i l a r c h a r g e s a n d t h i s w a s t h e
t h i r d I t d i d a s s u a g e s o m e c o n c e r n s t h e j u r y h a d a b o u t w h e t h e r t h i s c a s e
w a s j u s t a n i n n o c e n t m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g . F r o m t h i s p o i n t I h a v e b e e n c a l l e d
n u m e r o u s t i m e s b u t n e v e r p i c k e d .
A t t h e C C B A G e n e r a l M e e t i n g i n S e p t e m b e r , J u d g e B a r t l e t t d i s c u s s e d s o m e
o f t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s t o t h e j u r y p r o c e s s , i n c l u d i n g t e x t i n g a n d e m a i l s t o r e g i s t e r e d j u r o r s s o t h e y a r e n o t i f i e d m o r e e a s i l y o f t h e i r s e r v i c e o b l i g a t i o n s
U s i n g a Q R c a r d o n t h e p o s t c a r d s e n t t o p r o s p e c t i v e j u r o r s a n d u t i l i z i n g c e l l p h o n e s h a s i n c r e a s e d j u r o r p a r t i c i p a t i o n . T h e n e w p o s t c a r d s a n d p r o c e s s
w e r e u n v e i l e d i n F e b r u a r y o f t h i s y e a r . O v e r 4 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e a r e s u m m o n e d
f o r j u r y d u t y i n C l a r k C o u n t y e v e r y y e a r . S i n c e o v e r 5 6 % o f A m e r i c a n s u s e m o b i l e d e v i c e s a n d a r e m o r e c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h p o r t a l s , e m a i l s a n d t e x t s , t h e h o p e w a s a n u p d a t e d e x p e r i e n c e w o u l d m a k e t h e p r o c e s s m o r e s t r e a m l i n e d
a n d e a s i e r t o a c c e s s .
S i n c e I a m a p p a r e n t l y a n a f i c i o n a d o o f t h e j u r o r e x p e r i e n c e , I d o a g r e e t h a t
t h e n e w p r o c e s s w a s e a s y t o a c c e s s , t h e r e m i n d e r s a n d f o l l o w u p w e r e
a p p r e c i a t e d a n d t h e j u r y r o o m n o w i n c l u d e s u n l i m i t e d s n a c k s . T h e c o f f e e
a n d g r a n o l a b a r w a s v e r y m u c h a p p r e c i a t e d a t 8 a m o n a M o n d a y m o r n i n g
M y f e l l o w j u r o r s ( a r o u n d 7 0 o f u s ) w e r e v e r y a t t e n t i v e a n d t o o k t h e i r j o b v e r y
s e r i o u s l y – n o t o n e p e r s o n h a d t h e i r c e l l p h o n e s o u t s c r o l l i n g d u r i n g t h e o r i e n t a t i o n .
P a r t o f o r i e n t a t i o n i s w a t c h i n g a v i d e o c r e a t e d b y t h e W a s h i n g t o n F e d e r a l
D i s t r i c t C o u r t o n u n c o n s c i o u s b i a s I h a v e w a t c h e d t h i s v i d e o s e v e r a l t i m e s
i n v a r i o u s s e t t i n g s , i n c l u d i n g t h e j u r y d u t y I w a s c a l l e d t o i n 2 0 2 1 . I t i s v e r y
i m p a c t f u l a n d e x p l a i n s h o w o u r b r a i n s a u t o m a t i c a l l y c o m e t o c o n c l u s i o n s
a b o u t t h i n g s w e s e e , a n d h o w o u r f i r s t c o n c l u s i o n m a y n e e d t o b e a d d r e s s e d
a n d c h a l l e n g e d s o w e c a n e n s u r e w e a r e a c t i n g i n a f a i r a n d u n b i a s e d
m a n n e r w h e n w e a r e m a k i n g j u d g m e n t s a b o u t a c a s e . H e r e i s t h e v i d e o i f
y o u h a v e n o t s e e n i t : h t t p s : / / w w w w a w d u s c o u r t s g o v / j u r y / u n c o n s c i o u s -
b i a s O u r J u d g e s a r e v e r y c o m m i t t e d t o f a i r n e s s a n d i m p a r t i a l i t y i n h o w d e f e n d a n t s a r e v i e w e d a n d t h a t v e r d i c t s r e n d e r e d a r e f a i r a n d b a s e d o n t h e f a c t s o f t h e c a s e , n o t b i a s o r s t e r e o t y p e s .
I w a s n o t c h o s e n f o r s e r v i c e , b u t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s w e r e w e l l o r g a n i z e d , g a v e g o o d d a t a a b o u t t i m i n g a n d w h a t t o e x p e c t , a n d t h e p r o c e s s w a s l e s s p a i n f u l t h a n i t m i g h t h a v e b e e n . A l l o f u s w a l k i n g o u t i n r e l i e f a f t e r w e w e r e n o t s e l e c t e d f o r t h e j u r y f e l t a c a m a r a d e r i e a n d a p p r e c i a t e d t h a t w e w e r e a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e s y s t e m o f j u s t i c e i n C l a r k C o u n t y . T e n s t a r s ; w o u l d r e c o m m e n d .
Clark County Superior Court
BENCH/BAR COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
January 13, 2026
Persons in attendance: Judge Camara Banfield (Camera.Banfield@clark.wa.gov), Jessi Anderson (jessi@ccvlp. org), Amanda Willden (Amanda.Willden@clark.wa.gov), Curt Welch (cwelch@sussmanshank.com) Riley Gavigan (riley.gavigan@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.
We are just over a month away from the 2026 Clark County High School Mock Trial Tournament. It will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, February 18 and 19. There will be three rounds each day starting at 11:00 am, 2:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. Please watch your email for information on how to volunteer your time for this event.
No other updates this month.
Respectfully submitted, Jessi Anderson
We are looking for the will of Carol Sue Hall. Born June 21, 1949. Please contact Karen Malella-Manker if you have any information. (360) 448-7504 karen@kmankerlaw.com
Clark County Bar Association
CLARK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING
December 2, 2025
Minutes for the CCBA Board of Trustees Meeting December 2, 2025
1.Called to order 12:06 pm, Petersen, Rapp, Melnick, Larson, Busby, Mendoza, Sherman, Wechselblatt, Executive Director Darco.
2.Approval of November 4, 2025 board meeting minutes: (Sherman/Mendoza), Approved, members not present abstained
3. Treasurer’s Report: (Melnick) Dues revenue is near same as last year. Advertising revenue is down however that is largely due to invoice/contract timing. Expenses are near the same as last year.
4. To Discuss
a. Membership Update (Darco): Current: 368 members, 88 have not renewed from last year, 16 are new members to the CCBA.
b. Ranked Choice Voting – Bar Poll (Petersen): Suggestion to add a question to the bar poll to rank all candidates in order of preference. Update: it has now been tech tested and proven feasible. Board decided to use rank choice voting for all future polls.
c. CCBA Connects update: People have been strolling, running billable miles, and reading up for book club. An Emeritus group is in development. Come join us! If there is an activity you don’t see that you would like, contact Lisa Darco to start it up.
d. DEI Committee Update (Mendoza/Rapp) In the works: 1) Coffee and Conversations: attorneys and court staff talk to teens about various jobs in the legal system. Mila Boyd is organizing. FLS is donating event food. 2) Food Donation to Dandelion Tea House for distribution. Food collection at Wheeler Boyd and at Uptown Injury Law. There will be a 12/20/25 event at Dandelion Tea House. 3) CLE planning is underway. The next committee meeting is 1/26/26.
e. Jean McCoy is working with the Boys and Girls Club to organize a drive for gifts for teens.
6. Upcoming Events
a. Holiday Party - December 9th at the Kiggins- 6pm to 10pm
b. Ethics CLE 12/9/25
c. Barrister’s Ball - March 7, 2026 adjourned 12:45 pm
