The legal team that worked on the ground-breaking case, Wilbur vs. Mount Vernon, to ensure constitutional indigent defense is being recognized for the excellence and importance of its work. The Washington Defender Association (WDA) honored those who played an instrumental role in the landmark case with its President’s Award at the Defender Conference Dinner this Spring in Winthrop. WDA is an association of Washington state defense attorneys and public defenders, social workers, investigators, and those committed to improving indigent defense.
The Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL) has selected the Wilbur team for its 2014 Champion of Justice Award. The award recognizes an individual or group who – through legislative, judicial, journalistic or humanitarian pursuits – has staunchly preserved or defended the constitutional rights of Washington residents and endeavored to ensure justice and due process for those accused of crime. The award was presented at WACDL’s annual dinner in June at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan.
The legal team also has been nominated for a national award – the Public Justice Foundation’s Trial Lawyer of the Year Award – which recognizes outstanding contributions to the public interest through precedent-setting or otherwise extraordinary litigation. Big congratulations to team members: ACLU-WA staff attorneys Sarah Dunne and Nancy Talner; ACLU-WA cooperating attorneys James F. Williams, Breena Roos, J. Camille Fisher, David Steele, Joel Higa, Carol Kness, and Chris Knowlden from the Perkins Coie firm; Toby J. Marshall and Jennifer Boschen of Terrell Marshall Daudt Willie; and Matthew J. Zuchetto of the Scott Law Group.
