Juvenile Law Section

The Juvenile Law Section provides an opportunity for legal professionals who work with juveniles and their families in child welfare and juvenile justice to meet together and work collaboratively on issues facing their clients. Areas of legal practice the section addresses include child welfare, juvenile justice, status offenses, immigration as it relates to children and families, truancy, at-risk youth and children in need of services proceedings, as well as a variety of civil legal needs of youth. The Section welcomes advocates from all interested disciplines and a variety of fields of law, including juvenile justice, child welfare, and those who represent youth in civil legal practice.

The Section provides benefits to members by sponsoring an annual CLE focusing on current developments in the area of juvenile law. The Section also acts as an agent of change to improve the law and practice related to civil and criminal matters involving children and youth in Washington state. 

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Section Executive Committee Elections

The Section is conducting elections for open positions on the executive committee.

Voting is scheduled for June 5-19, 2023. All voting members of the Section will be sent an electronic ballot from SurveyMonkey via email on June 5, 2023.

Candidate Information, Open Positions, and Terms
For more information about the Section and its executive committee, please review the Section's bylaws. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by position.

Chair-elect
One position open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Candidate: James M. Richardson III | Candidate Materials

Chair-elect
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Bailey Zydek | Candidate Materials

Secretary/Treasurer
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Marci Comeau | Candidate Materials

At-Large Member
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Kari Petrasek | Candidate Materials

CLE/Outreach Coordinator
One position open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Katherine Kameron | Candidate Materials

Civil Legal Needs Committee Co-Director
Two positions open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Candidate: Gloria Backus

Civil Legal Needs Committee Co-Director
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Katherine Kameron | Candidate Materials

Dependency and Child Welfare Committee Co-Director
Two positions open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Candidate 1: Nancy Ann Beckford | Candidate Materials

Candidate 2: Kaelen H. Brodie | Candidate Materials

Dependency and Child Welfare Committee Co-Director
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate 1: Nancy Ann Beckford | Candidate Materials

Candidate 2: Kaelen H. Brodie | Candidate Materials

Juvenile Justice Committee Co-Director
One position open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Candidate: Mandy Rose | Candidate Materials

Juvenile Justice Committee Co-Director
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Mandy Rose | Candidate Materials

Legislative Committee Co-Director
One position open. Remainder of current term ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Candidate: Katherine Kameron | Candidate Materials

Legislative Committee Co-Director
Two positions open. 1-year term: Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024.

Candidate: Jeffrey Bennett Adams | Candidate Materials

Questions? Email sections@wsba.org.

Executive Committee

The WSBA Juvenile Law Executive Committee generally conducts meetings by videoconference from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Friday of each month. See the event calendar listing for log-in information. Please contact subcommittee members for details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.

To join the section list serve and for general section questions, please send your email address and Bar number to sections@wsba.org. For more information and to get involved with the section, contact the section Co-Chair Bailey Zydek.