PORT ANGELES — Retired Clallam County Superior Court Judge Ken Williams accepted a William O. Douglas Award for his two decades on the bench from a trial attorneys group Friday.
Williams also accepted a similar award on behalf of his retired judicial colleague, George L. Wood, who was out of town.
Both judges took to the Clallam County Superior Court bench in 1993. Williams retired in 2012; Wood retired earlier this year.
Presenting the award, former Port Angeles attorney Deborah Nelson said the two jurists had been “unfailingly courteous and polite” both to attorneys and to their clients.
Williams took particular pleasure showing attorneys from large corporations around Puget Sound that rural Clallam County was judicially sophisticated enough to exceed their expectations, she said.
‘Honest Lawyer’
The Douglas award was named for the Washington state jurist who served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1939 to 1975 and whose home in Good Prairie bore the sign “Honest Lawyer — One Flight Up.”
Given annually by the Washington State Association for Justice, Nelson said, it especially targets judges who work outside the Seattle metropolis, often with little recognition.
A graduate of Washington State University, Williams served two years in Vietnam. He is married to Janet, his wife of 43 years.
He serves as president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula and as chairman of the Lauridsen Foundation. He continues as a judge pro tem, a mediator and an arbitrator.
Wood visiting family
Wood served alongside Williams for most of their careers as attorneys and judges. A native Californian, Wood went to Colorado College and Arizona State University. He and his wife, Nancy, have been married 44 years.
Williams said Wood was visiting his grandchild and was unable to attend Friday’s ceremony.
“Family always comes first with him,” Williams said.
As for Williams, he has traveled extensively after leaving the bench to countries that include the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and the Bahamas, among others.
‘Not a day of regret’
“I have enjoyed retirement. Get there as soon as you can,” he told the attorneys who assembled for a Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers Continuing Legal Education seminar in Port Angeles City Hall on Friday.
“Look forward to the day and what your passion takes you to,” he said.
“It was a pleasure to serve in Clallam County. It was easy and it was fun. I had not a day of regret — ever.”
State Supreme Court Justices Susan Owens and Charles Wiggins applauded Williams. They participated in the pro bono seminar in discussions of ethics in the legal profession and the changing culture for women in legal professions.
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Reporter James Casey can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jcasey@peninsuladailynews.com.
