Washington wins 2008 Chapter of the Year Award

Timothy D. Blue, Chapter President, accepts award

The Washington Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates received Chapter of the Year honors for its outstanding accomplishments. Chapter President Timothy D. Blue accepted the award at ABOTA's National Board of Directors Meeting held at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla., Jan. 17.

"The Chapter of the Year Award drew a number of entries making the competition exceptionally tough. This year's winner demonstrated an outstanding focus for members, their commitment and their desire to promote the 7th Amendment's right to civil trial by jury," said John L. Holcomb, National President of ABOTA. The Chapter's accomplishments over the past year touched on every one of ABOTA's purposes and goals, Holcomb said.

The ABOTA National Chapter of the Year Award is given to the chapter that exhibits exemplary activity and hard work that furthers the goals of ABOTA, according Alan I. Dunst, Awards Committee Co-chair. He added that the Washington Chapter is the first ABOTA Chapter located West of the Rocky Mountains other than a California chapter that has ever won this award.

"Winning this award is a significant honor for the Washington Chapter," Mr. Blue said.

Mr. Dunst said there are several elements the Awards Committee considers, including:

• Growth in membership
• Pro bono and scholarship contributions
• Diversity
• Collegiality and camaraderie
• Social activities
• Collaboration
• Community involvement
• Professional education
• Youth education
• Judicial involvement
• State involvement
• History
• Fellows participation

This list is in no particular order, nor does it represent everything a chapter can do to be nominated.

Founded in 1958, ABOTA is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. ABOTA and its members are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the 7th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Foundation of ABOTA is an affiliated charitable entity, the mission of which is to support the purposes of ABOTA through education and research. ABOTA membership consists of more than 6,300 lawyers and judges spread among 93 Chapters in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. ABOTA publishes Voir Dire magazine, which features in-depth articles on current and historical issues related to the 7th Amendment.