John Strait ’69 to Receive William O. Douglas Award from WACDL

The Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL) is pleased to announce that John A. Strait will receive WACDL’s William O. Douglas Award.

The highest award presented by WACDL, the Douglas Award “recognizes extraordinary courage and commitment in the practice of criminal law.” The award will be presented at WACDL’s annual awards dinner at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan, Washington on June 9, 2017.

This year’s recipient of this bronze, life-sized bust of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas is law Professor John Strait ’69, a graduate of Yale Law School, who has served as a law professor teaching a variety of subjects related to criminal law, trial advocacy, constitutional law and ethics at Seattle University for more than 43 years.

But Professor Strait has done far more than teach criminal law and ethics since 1972. He has spoken at hundreds of continuing legal education courses locally and nationally, he has provided expert testimony about ethics and malpractice in courts as an expert witness in hundreds of cases, including the United States Supreme Court, and he has worked tirelessly to ensure access to the courts for indigents and criminal defendants, most often without compensation.

According to Professor Strait’s colleague Richard Hansen, “It is hard to imagine a more deserving recipient of this award for Professor Strait’s ‘extraordinary courage and dedication to the practice of criminal law.’”

John Strait is Emeritus Professor of Law and Professional Ethics Counsel, Seattle University School of Law. Professor Strait is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, and Yale Law School. Professor Strait also has served on the Rules of Professional Conduct Committee for the State of Washington for much of the last 25 years. He co-chairs WACDL’s Ethics Hotline and has served on various WACDL committees and task forces.

The Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers was formed to improve the quality and administration of justice. WACDL has over 800 members — private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, and related professionals — committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal justice system.

For more information about WACDL or WACDL’s Awards, please contact Fred Rice, Program Coordinator at fred.rice@wacdl.org or 206-623-1302.