The King County Law Library has formed an Advisory Committee to develop a strategic plan for the future of the public law library.
The King County Law Library is a public library that provides legal information to both attorneys and the public. In these difficult economic times, the Law Library is a free resource for legal information for the residents of King County. The two locations in the King County Courthouse in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent have over 100,000 visitors each year. The Board of Trustees is establishing the Advisory Committee to assist in re-branding and focusing the Law Library to better meet the information needs of the legal community as well as those without attorneys.
The Board of Trustees seeks to use the expertise, ideas, and experience of the Advisory Committee in three broad areas. First, the Law Library is exploring better ways to use technology to deliver legal information services throughout the county. Second, the Law Library plans to further develop and help coordinate legal services and information for self-represented and low-income litigants. Third, the Law Library seeks to enhance its visibility by transforming itself into a legal resource center where services are available to the public in a one-stop location.
The Advisory Committee members are:
Alan Funk. Alan Funk is an attorney at Wechsler Becker, LLP focusing on Family Law. He was the President of the Family Law Section of the King County Bar Association from 2009-2010.
The Honorable Steven Gonzáles. Judge Gonzáles has served at King County Superior Court since 2002 and is chair of the Access to Justice Board of the Washington State Bar Association. Prior to becoming a judge, he served as Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Heather Griffith. Heather Griffith is a second-year student at the University of Washington School of Law. Before law school, she worked in a public library and also a research library.
Penny Hazelton. Penny Hazelton is the Associate Dean for Library & Computing Services at the University of Washington School of Law. She also serves as the Director of the Law Librarianship program offered through the Information School at UW.
Barbara Holt. Barbara Holt directs the Library and Research Department for Perkins Coie, the largest law firm in Seattle.
The Honorable Donald Horowitz (Ret.). Judge Horowitz has been active in the legal community in Washington for over fifty years. He is a former King County Superior Court judge and has since served as a mediator and arbitrator.
Joseph Janes. Joseph Janes is a professor at the Information School at the University of Washington. His research interests include how library adaption and evolution keeps libraries relevant in their communities.
Connelly Johnson. Connelly Johnson is an Associate Librarian at Davis Wright Tremaine, a large Seattle law firm.
Jeff Kempe. Jeff Kempe serves as the Adult Services Coordinator for King County Library System. KCLS is the second busiest library system in the county.
John McKay. John McKay is a Seattle native that recently served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington. He is currently an adjunct professor at Seattle University School of Law and has received the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award from the Washington State Bar Association.
Kellye Testy. Kellye Testy serves as the dean at University of Washington School of Law. Prior to coming to UW, she was dean at Seattle University School of Law.
César Torres. César Torres is the Executive Director of Northwest Justice Project, a position he has held since 2006. He has over 25 years of experience serving low-income litigants and has focused his talents on issues relating to housing.
The Law Library looks forward to working with these esteemed members of the community and engaging in discussions on how to better serve the civil legal aid community and self-represented litigants.