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WSBA’s Rule of Law Ambassador program mobilizes thousands of lawyers for civic education and to counter threats and misinformation
Summary
The State Bar launched a Rule of Law Ambassador program and related outreach that organizers say drew thousands on Law Day; leaders said the program pairs lawyers and judges for community engagement, combats misinformation, and provides tools for local education and public trust in the judiciary.
WSBA President Frances Adewale told the court the Bar has launched a Rule of Law Ambassador program to promote public understanding of the rule of law and protect judicial independence. The initiative, she said, is intended to bring lawyers into communities to counter misinformation and to educate the public about why threats to judges undermine the justice system.
“Threats against judges is an affront on the rule of law, and it must stop,” Adewale told the gathering. She described events in Clark and Chelan counties and said the program will take educational and outreach tools across the state.
WSBA communications leaders said initial engagement has been strong: Sarah Nagalski reported that Law Day events involved large, multi-site participation and that the Bar recorded thousands of lawyer attendees and online viewers for webinars and CLE programs tied to the ambassador effort. “We kicked off on Monday. We had about 2,000 lawyers in 13 different sites,” Nagalski said, describing training, community conversations and a research collaboration with the Center for an Informed Public to develop recommendations and materials for court systems.
Why it matters: organizers said the program answers a practical need—lawyers as informed civic ambassadors—while aiming to inoculate communities against disinformation and to equip lawyers to speak to the public in plain, research-informed ways. The Bar plans classroom visits, regional events and a cohort program to develop trained ambassadors around the state.
What comes next: WSBA leaders invited justices and governors to participate in upcoming panels and regional events; staff said details and sign-up information are on the Bar’s website and that they will continue to issue updates to court leadership.
At this meeting no decisions were required; the session served as an update and invitation to collaborate on outreach and education.
