Each year at the annual Defender Conference in April, the Washington Defender Association recognizes members for outstanding work in the legal representation of their indigent clients. The Gideon Award is our most esteemed award; it is not given every year. A Gideon Award recognizes a lasting impact on the broader field of public defense—advancing innovative defense strategies, promoting systemic reforms, improving training and professional development, and fostering a culture of dignity and excellence in representation. Our President’s Award recognizes extraordinary effort and unwavering dedication by a defense attorney or team to indigent defense clients. This award may be given to recognize achievement in a particular case or a practice area, to a public defender with 5 or less years of experience who has achieved outstanding success, for long-time service to the public defense community, or for a success or effort that has significantly changed public defense practice locally or statewide.
2019
- Gideon Award: Bill Jaquette (Snohomish Co PDA)
- President’s Awards: Lila Silverstein, Neil Fox, Heather Evans, Katherine Becket, Harry Gasnick, Sonja Hardenbrook
- Certificates of Recognition: Neal Friedman (Snohomish Co PDA), Will Gelvik and Whitney Rivera (Snohomish Co PDA), Krista Elliott and Megan Manlove (Spokane), Karama Hawkins (King and Pierce)
2018
- President’s Award: Verna Hochstrasser (King Co., DPD), Ronald Sergi (Mason Co.)
- Certificates of Recognition: Nicole Beges (Pierce County), David Bustamante (Grant County), Katie Hurley (King County), Anna Nordtveldt (Spokane County), Michael Vander Giessen (Spokane County)
2017
- President’s Award: Adam Ballout and ABC Law Group, Paige Garberding (King Co., ACA)
- Certificates of Recognition: Kevin March, Travis Stearns, Mamie Lackie, Amy Jones, Jill Gannon Nagle, Evelyn Chuang, Ashwin Kumar
- Distinguished Career Service: Jon Komorowski, Keith Howard, James Robinson, Michael Sparks
2016
- Gideon Award: George Yeannakis (statewide, TeamChild and OPD)
- President’s Award: Starck Follis (Whatcom County Public Defender), Terry Mulligan (Cowlitz County Office of Public Defense), Kari Reardon (Spokane County Public Defender)
2015
- President’s Award: Cassie Trueblood (Snohomish County PDA) and Floris Mikkelsen (King County DPD: TDA Division)
- Certificates of Recognition: Catherine Harkins (Benton County), Rebecca Dombcik (Yakima County), Braden Pence (Snohomish County), Patrick O’Connor and Larry Jefferson (Thurston County)
2014
- Gideon Award: Nancy Talner (ACLU-WA)
- President’s Award: The Wilbur team in recognition of their exceptional work which resulted in the ground-breaking decision: Toby J. Marshall and Jennifer Boschen (Terrell Marshall Daudt & Willie); Matthew J. Zuchetto (The Scott Law Group); James F. Williams, Breena Roos, J. Camille Fisher, David Steele, Joel Higa, Carol Kness and Chris Knowlden (Perkins Coie); Sarah Dunne and Nancy Talner (ACLU-WA); and Letty Alvarez-Gubitosi (Skagit County DAC).
- Certificates of Appreciation: Bob Boruchowitz (Seattle University School of Law), Chris Jackson, John Strait (Seattle University School of Law), Sara Hixson Thurston Co OAC, Nick Allen (CLS), Ken Change (King Co TDA), Mike De Felice (King Co TDA), Chris Jennings (Pierce Co DAC)
2013
- President’s Award: Anita Paulsen (King Co., TDA), Lauren McLane (King Co., TDA) and Richard Whitehead (Pierce County DAC)
- Certificates of Recognition: John Ziegler (Walla Walla), Bill Jaquette, Whitney Rivera, and Eric Johnsen (Snohomish County PDA)
2012
- Gideon Award: Dan Fessler (Yakima County DAC)
- President’s Award: Nancy Collins (WAP) and Greg Link (WAP)
- Certificates of Recognition: Alex Frix (Thurston Co.), Kristen Gestaut (ACA), Robert O’Neal (Snohomish Co PDA), Daryl Rodrigues (Colville Tribal Court), Jason Schwarz (Snohomish Co PDA)
2011
- President’s Award: Stan Munger, Abbey Perkins (King Co, ACA) Jamie Kvistad (King Co, ACA) and Lila Silverstein (WAP)
- Certificates of Recognition: Ramona Brandes (King Co, NWD), Dana Brown (King Co, ACA), Eric Johnson
2010
- President’s Award: Liz Albertson (King Co, ACA), Amy Muth, Sandro Parotta (King Co, ACA), Gordon Hill (King Co, ACA) and Nita Haley (King Co, ACA)
- Certificates of Recognition: Sara Ayoubi, Robert Grower, Russell Kurth
2009
- President’s Award: Peggy Berry, Marc Boman, Jocelyn Cook, Jackie McMurtrie, Whitney Rivera
- Certificates of Recognition: Kim Ambrose, Beth Colgan, Ryan Gray, Michele Shaw, Ray Ward, George Yeannakis
2008
- President’s Award: Sean Devlin, Jamie Hawk, Joanne Moore and Brandon Redal
- Certificate of Recognition: David Chapman
2007
- President’s Award: Rachel Forde, Kyana Stephens, Dino Sepe and Todd Reeves
- Certificate of Recognition: Craig A. Platt
2006
- Gideon Award: Mary Wolney
- President’s Award: Dennis Carroll and Richard Wallis
- Certificates of Recognition: Jack Hill, John Ostlund
- Certificate of Achievement: Bruce Shamulka
2005
- Gideon Award: Jon Ostlund
- Presidents Award: Richard Sanger, Linda Lillevik, Jana Heyd and Cindy Spanton
2004
- Inaugural Gideon Award: Robert Boruchowitz