Now that election time is coming, there may be talk about State Bar grievances that have been filed against me. Just so that everyone knows, there have been three.

Two of the three State Bar grievances were similar. One was about what I had written in an article and another was about the fact that I have been writing the articles at all. That grievance began as an allegation that I wrote to influence public opinion on a case which was going to trial, and was broad enough to include every single article that I had written up to that time. I responded by saying that the information I provided was either public record or was permitted by the rules and was not prejudicial to any case going to trial. Both grievances were dismissed by the State Bar Disciplinary Department.

The third grievance is still under investigation. This one is interesting partly because it is anonymous. I am not allowed to know who made the complaint, but that person is allowed to see my response. It seems kind of odd, but that is the way it is.

The grievance says that I solicited donations to a charity which I am involved with that drills water wells in Guatemala, and because some of the persons are defense attorneys from Spokane, this is a conflict of interest and unethical conduct on my part. The implication is that I gave considerations from this office to attorneys in exchange for donations to the charity that I am involved with.

In response, I acknowledged I am involved with a non-profit organization that drills water wells in Guatemala, but denied that I have ever solicited donations from any attorney for that organization. I informed the Bar that I have asked friends to donate to a charity which operates an orphanage in Guatemala where my wife and I sponsor children, but that I am not involved in that charity in any way. Some of these friends are defense attorneys, but none regularly work in Stevens County. I told the State Bar that I have never traded considerations from this office for donations to any charity. I have given the State Bar the names of the Spokane defense attorneys that I know who have donated to the charity in the last 3 years. The State Bar has not finished this investigation.

If any person wants further information about these grievances, please contact me.

If anyone would like to help care for orphan children in other places, please let me know.

I can put you in contact with a good organization here in Washington that needs help.