SUMMER 2004 FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION of the Western District of Washington NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS VOL. 27 NO. 1 SUMMER 2004 NEW U.S. COURTHOUSE GRACES SEATTLE SKYLINE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION NEWS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A BUSY SUMMER IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT ’ll keep this short. There’s a lot going on in the Western District of Washington this spring and summer. For starters, we have Itwo new district judges and a new United States Courthouse. Things like that certainly don’t happen every year. Our new judges are profiled in this issue. several workstations with Internet complete and turn in your registration Perhaps the best reflection of their access for laptops, a copier, at least one form each year. Your membership dues stature is the fact that they were both desktop computer for anyone to use, a are not significant enough to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate without computer with access to the court’s memorable. But the budget to publish controversy in a time of extraordinary electronic docket, and some temporary this newsletter, present CLEs, support gridlock over judicial nominations. The lockable storage in which to leave a the activities of our various committees, Western District’s success in keeping its document case or other materials for an and plan other activities is based on federal bench fully staffed in polarized hour or two. Please make good use of member dues. If you can’t remember political times also reflects the these facilities, but take good care of whether you’ve registered for 2004, exceptional collegiality among the them too. We’d like this space to be check with the association’s secretary, district’s judges and between its judges both useful and successful. Beth Andrus. If you know you haven’t and attorneys. We are very fortunate to registered, there’s a form in this be able to call the Western District our Just in case you’re beginning to think all newsletter—turn to it now and send it in home court and to have two new district the news about the courts is good news with your dues check. If you’re not sure judges to get to know. this summer, you should be aware that what your member dues are used for, there have been rumblings in Congress sign up to participate in one of our The new federal courthouse is complete about a budget freeze for the federal committees, attend one of our quarterly and has already had an impact on the courts for fiscal year 2005. At the meetings, or attend one of our lunch or Seattle skyline. It will soon have an moment, it appears that Congress will CLE programs. Ongoing activities impact on all of us. It too is profiled in relent and adequately—if not fully—fund include developing and proposing to the this issue. With the clerk’s office moving our federal courts. If the situation court modifications and additions to the into the new courthouse over two changes, however, we may need to local rules for the Western District, weekends in August and the new building speak up for the incredibly important role brown-bag lunches with judges, and co- opening for business this summer, I would that the federal courts play and the need sponsoring programs and events. You encourage all of you to pick a sunny day for adequate funding for all of the can find out more about these and other and take a stroll over to the courthouse. services that the courts provide. On this activities on our website, www.fba- Take a lunch and eat in the plaza. Walk issue, stay tuned. No further news may wdwash.org. You may be surprised by through the building and get acquainted be good news. how much we do—and by how much with it. One thing you may want to look you can be a part of our work. for is the attorney workroom on the tenth Last—and perhaps least but still floor. This room is the product of a joint important—many of you who will Enjoy the newsletter. Hope to see you effort by the clerk’s office and our receive this newsletter may not be at one of our events later this year. association to provide a small amount of current in your FBA-WDW work and meeting space for attorneys in membership. It’s easy to forget to Todd D. True the courthouse. The room will have 2 SUMMER 2004 FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION of the Western District of Washington NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS In this issue: President’s Message ...................................................................... 2 Association Enjoys Record Attendance at 2003 Annual Dinner ............................................................................4 Profile of Judge Ricardo S. Martinez..............................................8 Profile of Judge James L. Robart ................................................. 11 New Federal Courthouse Opens in Seattle .................................. 12 Notice of Annual Meeting ............................................................ 14 Registration Form ........................................................................ 15 On the cover: Seattle’s new United States Courthose. Photograph by Christian Richters. ©2004 by the Federal Bar Association of the The Federal Bar Association News is a semi-an- Western District of Washington. All rights reserved. nual publication of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington. Comments and proposed articles should be addressed to: Duncan Manville Riddell Williams P.S. 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza, Suite 4500 Seattle, WA 98154-1065 (206) 624-3600 3 FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION NEWS ASSOCIATION ENJOYS RECORD Incoming President Todd True opened the evening’s festivities with a presentation ATTENDANCE AT 2003 ANNUAL DINNER to Mr. Swan for his tireless work as president of the association. Mr. True By J. Todd Tracy highlighted Mr. Swan’s efforts to establish the Judge William Dwyer Jury Project he Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Award, and to expand the association’s Washington welcomed a record number of members and membership to include more public-sector guests to its 21st Annual Dinner on December 10, 2003 in attorneys. As a token of the association’s T appreciation, Mr. True presented Mr. the Spanish Ballroom of the newly renamed Fairmont Olympic Swan with a framed antique map for his Hotel. The popularity of this annual celebration reflects the growth, collection. vibrancy and importance of the association. The 2003 Annual Dinner was preceded association. Mr. Swan reported on the by the annual winter CLE. Another highlights of his year as president, victim of its own success, the CLE had including an important report issued by over 120 attendees. One panel featured the Equal Access to Justice Task Force Judge Thomas Zilly and Shirley Lindberg, and the Pro Bono Committee. Mr. Swan and was entitled Electronic Case discussed the association’s efforts to Filing—Have You Been Served? A extend its geographic diversity, which second panel, featuring Judge Marsha included holding its April 2003 Quarterly Pechman, Martha Dawson, Randy Meeting at the U.S. Courthouse in Granger and moderator Chris Youtz, Tacoma. That meeting was attended by tackled Electronic Discovery. The most of Tacoma’s federal judges, along James Smith CLE’s final panel was headlined by with numerous Pierce County-based Mr. True then introduced Jim Smith, who special guest Barry Scheck, who joined presented the association’s 2003 Service Professor Jacqueline McMurtrie, Judge Award to Carolyn Cairns. Ms. Cairns Robert Lasnik and Francis Diskin in a has a long and distinguished record of discussion of Innocence, Guilt and service to the organization. She is a past Evidence. president and trustee of the association. After the CLE, Kevin Swan presided She is also a member of the ADR Task over his final Quarterly and Annual Force, and most recently chaired the Membership Meeting as president of the Task Force on the Revised Civil Rules, which in January issued its final report. Ms. Cairns graciously accepted the Todd True members of the Washington bar. Mr. Swan then presided over the election of the association’s officers and trustees for 2004. Val Hughes was elected vice- president, and Steve Koh and Beth Andrus were reelected to their respective positions as treasurer and secretary. Finally, Mr. Swan welcomed new trustees Linda Severin, Deborah Crabbe Kevin Swan and Harry (Skip) Johnson. Carolyn Cairns 4 SUMMER 2004 award, recalling her early mentors who Judge Steiner took the podium and circuit, Judge Schroeder commended the had actively encouraged her to thanked the association for his award. association and the Western District’s participate in the association. She Noting that he is frequently credited with federal practitioners for their tremendous concluded by stating that it has been an having saved Frango’s for Seattle during professionalism and the high quality of honor to serve the association and to a contentious hearing in the Frederick & their legal work. She also praised Judge further its mission. Nelson bankruptcy case, he pointed out John Coughenour on his successful that all he had done was delay a hearing tenure as chair of the Ninth Circuit’s The evening’s spotlight then turned to the for several hours and open the door to Conference of Chief District Judges. U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Bankruptcy his conference room so the lawyers could Finally, she updated the district on the Committee chair Todd Tracy introduced craft a settlement agreement that he budget issues facing the circuit. the evening’s judicial honoree, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Samuel J. Steiner, who The evening’s keynote address was to in 2003 was marking the 25th anniversary have been delivered by Senator Maria of his elevation to the bench. In fact, Cantwell, but she had to cancel due to a Judge Steiner is the longest-serving, non- last-minute scheduling change and the recalled, active bankruptcy judge in the need for her to participate in a fact- United States.