WDA Background

Since 1983, the Washington Defender Association has been committed to improving the quality of the criminal defense bar in Washington and in working for improved funding for public defense.

WDA provides over 900 members with access to the most recent developments in criminal law through training seminars, publications, and its resource assistance.

Legislative Activities

We are your voice in Olympia, advocating positive legislation to assist public defenders and working to oppose legislation that would hurt public defender clients. WDA represents public defense issues in Olympia. We work actively to oppose legislation which would seriously undermine constitutional protections for people accused of crimes. WDA supports positive legislation which would help fund indigent defense services or otherwise assist public defense agencies in protecting the rights of the accused. In addition, we support efforts which would provide alternatives to incarceration when appropriate. WDA was instrumental in passage of HB 1542 which provides state funding to public defenders and reinforces WDA's standards for public defense services. WDA's standards have been endorsed by the Washington State Bar Association and are referenced in RCW 10.101. Our 2007 priorities include increased state funding for public defense services.

Information on member services, such as the CLE training and publications, is also available on this site.