WSBA governors hold first reading on proposal to add two public members to Board of Governors

The Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors on a first reading considered a proposal to add two public, nonlawyer voting members to the Board of Governors, to be appointed by the Washington Supreme Court and seated in 2026.

Proponents, led by Governor Couch, said the change would help the Bar better serve the public. "Our mission begins with to serve the public," Governor Couch said, and adding public members would bring "a new perspective that none of us really brings to the table." Staff presenters said the proposal was developed after surveys and two focus groups that contacted about 200 stakeholders and that respondents generally supported adding public members.

The draft amendment would add two seats defined as people who "have not been licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction," who are not enrolled in or graduated from law school and who do not have a direct significant financial interest in the practice of law. At least one public member would be a resident of Eastern Washington. Public members would serve the same term lengths and limits as other governors; the initial appointments in 2026 would be staggered (one two-year term, one three-year term). Vacancies with more than 12 months left would be filled by Supreme Court appointment; vacancies under 12 months could be filled at the…