Lawyers Honor Trio

Thu., Sept. 14, 2000

From Staff Reports

The Washington State Bar Association presented Spokesman-Review staff writer Karen Dorn Steele with the Washington State Bar Association Excellence in Legal Journalism Award on Wednesday.

The organization recognized Steele for her story on U.S. District Judge Alan McDonald of Yakima, who exchanged racially offensive notes in court with a clerk while presiding over cases.

Steele’s story prompted a 9th Circuit Court investigation into the judge’s conduct. The 9th Circuit Judicial Council issued a rare public reprimand Monday against the 72-year-old judge.

Also recognized was state Supreme Court Justice Richard Guy, who was presented with the bar association’s Outstanding Judge Award.

Guy, a lifelong resident of Spokane, will retire from the bench in November. He graduated from North Central High School, Gonzaga University and Gonzaga University Law School.

And Louis Rukavina III, a Spokane attorney, was given the WSBA’s Award of Merit, the organization’s highest honor.

In 1992, Rukavina founded the Spokane Scholars Foundation, which was a result of his disenchantment with extravagant rewards heaped on athletes with less attention given to academic achievers.

The foundation has raised more than $200,000 in education grants.

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