The Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ) presented its 2009 Judge of the Year Award to Skagit County Superior Court Judge John M. Meyer and its 2009 Excellence in Journalism Award to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Brian Tollefson was among seven judges honored for their 20 years of service on the bench during WSAJ’s annual Law Day event on May 5, which celebrates social and economic justice.

The following seven judges were presented a Twenty-Year Judicial Service Award:

— Judge Michael Cooper, Kittitas County Superior Court

— Judge William Downing, King County Superior Court

— Judge Joan DuBuque, King County Superior Court

— Judge Alan Hancock, Island/San Juan County Superior Court

— Judge LeRoy McCullough, King County Superior Court

— Judge Don Schacht, Walla Walla Superior Court

— Judge Brian Tollefson, Pierce County Superior Court

Tollefson, who graduated from the University of Washington in 1973 and the Willamette University College of Law in 1976, has participated in judicial leadership activities at the County and State levels over the years, including his current services as chairman of the Superior Court Judges’ Association Technology Committee.

Also recognized at the Law Day event were more than 80 law firms across the state that participated in WSAJ’s Fight for Justice – Fight Against Hunger Campaign. The firms raised food and funds for Northwest Harvest over the two weeks leading up to Law Day.

More information about the campaign, as well as biographies of the judges, is available online at http://www.washingtonjustice.org .