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Attorneys praise Bruce’s role in press-protection laws during tribute
Summary
At a Bar Association tribute, multiple speakers described Bruce as a national legal figure who helped advance Washington’s prior SLAPP statute, the shield law and a correction statute protecting publishers; family members accepted an award on his behalf.
At a Bar Association tribute, multiple speakers praised Bruce for a decades-long legal career and for helping advance statutes that protect reporters and publishers.
Speaker 1, Speaker, who opened the remarks on behalf of the family, said, "How would I say my dad's legacy? 3 kids, 2 step kids, and presently 6 grandchildren. He was a larger than life figure, and that presence was something that we all felt." The speaker added that Bruce "lived [the practice of law] throughout his practice with the way he gave back to communities in need, with the way he treated his colleagues. He was the lawyer's lawyer. His reach was national," quoting Speaker 2.
Speakers highlighted Bruce’s work on laws affecting the press. Speaker 3 said Bruce "was instrumental in getting the legislature to adopt some really key protections for the press and for reporters, including Washington's prior slap statute, which has since been replaced, with another version that Bruce had a bit of a hand in as well. He also was very critical in getting the legislature to adopt the shield law, which protects reporters' confidential sources and notes and other news gathering in a way that reporters and media in the state use every day. Also had a role in Washington's correction statute, which provides protection for news publishers, abuses of potential damages for defamation. He went to bat nationwide for the press, for theaters and museums, and other lawyers."
Speakers described his professional style and contributions beyond specific statutes. "He had a really amazing memory and he could pull really far back esoteric quotes that were relevant to what was going on," Speaker 1 said. Speaker 2 said Bruce prioritized pro bono work and education, noting his involvement "from prisoners' rights work to working with disenfranchised organizations" and his willingness to "let younger lawyers run with the cases and take on key aspects and key responsibility for cases early on." Speaker 3 called him a "Renaissance man" who combined toughness with an even demeanor.
Family remarks closed the tribute. Speaker 1 accepted the honor for the family and said, "It means quite a lot to me and to my family to be accepting the award on behalf of my dad. He was a consummate professional at home, at work, everywhere in his life. My family and I are all proud of him."
