1980s

Defense lawyers, over meetings during 1986 and 1987 at the Merchants Café, form the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

First WACDL amicus brief filed in March: State v. Ciskie (admissibility of rape trauma syndrome testimony); WACDL amicus author: Mike Trickey
WACDL has 52 members
First CLE program presented on May 29: "The Time Has Come" featuring Richard "Racehorse" Haynes, The Hon. John Coughenour, and Judy Clarke.
First Defense Magazine published, with articles about forfeiture, eyewitness ID, prostitution sex stings, compelled mental health evaluations, and child sex cases.

Teresa Mathis becomes WACDL's first Executive Director.
Catherine Chaney testifies against one-party consent bill, which dies due to our efforts.
First WACDL Holiday Party: Dinner is an hors d'oeuvres buffet (and we run out of food); first William O. Douglas Award presented to Katie Ross.