Tim Jaasko-Fisher, M.A., J.D.

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Senior Director of Curriculum and Program Development, Civility Center for the Law

Mr. Jaasko-Fisher works with people and organizations to explore how individuals exercising leadership can promote a more civil workplace, community, and society. He engages people through interactive workshops designed to promote wellbeing within the individual, enhance productivity, and improve outcomes. In his role as the Senior Director of Curriculum and Program Development at the Civility Center, Tim not only works on programing, but also gives presentations, and works individually with organizations of legal professionals.

As a private consultant, Mr. Jaasko-Fisher also serves as the Director of Internal Capacity Building for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau’s Center for Capacity Building for Courts where he is part of a team of national experts focused on building capacity for positive change in court improvement programs across the United States.

Mr. Jaasko-Fisher was the founding director of the Court Improvement Training Academy (CITA) at the University of Washington School of Law, where he developed a unique intervention model to help courts improve their response to child abuse and neglect. Using a systems-based approach, he helped court communities engage in meaningful conversations across disciplines to improve their process, relationships, and outcomes. In 2010, he was awarded the Lee Ann Miller Individual Award for outstanding leadership in furthering the goals of the Washington State Children’s Justice Act and led the Court Improvement Training Academy to receive the Lee Ann Miller Team award in 2014.

Mr. Jaasko-Fisher worked as an Assistant Attorney General for 11 years. He has litigated at all levels of the justice system in Washington State, including administrative tribunals, the Superior Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. He presents and consults nationally and internationally on issues relating to leadership, civility, and engaging groups in complex problem-solving. He resides in Tacoma with his two daughters.

Paula Lustbader, J.D.

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President, Robert’s Fund; Professor of Law Emerita and Past Director, Academic Resource Center at Seattle University School of Law

Professor Paula Lustbader is highly respected internationally in the legal-education academy and locally in the Seattle legal community for the passion and energy she brought to her work as co-founder and director of the Academic Resource Center and its Access Admissions program at Seattle University School of Law. For 28 years, she provided instruction, support, and mentorship to law students from under-represented groups and, in the process, has been instrumental in increasing the diversity of the legal profession. She has touched the lives of more than 1,000 law students who, on graduation, have gone on to impact the lives of literally thousands of clients and fellow citizens in Washington and across the country.

Professor Lustbader’s contribution to the academy was acknowledged in 2015, when she was given the Association of American Law Schools Section on Academic Support Award for Excellence in Legal Education. The Washington State Bar Association recognized Professor Lustbader’s outstanding contributions by naming her co-recipient of the organization’s Award for Excellence in Diversity (2006). In 2010, she received the Loren Miller Bar Association President’s Award for her role in increasing the diversity in the legal profession.

Professor Lustbader is an internationally recognized leader, scholar, and speaker on law school academic support programs, learning theory, teaching methods, and diversity. She has also lectured in England, Switzerland, Spain, and Italy. In addition to using her vision to help found two national organization sections on Law School Academic Support and the Center for Teaching and Learning at Seattle University, she has assumed numerous leadership roles with the legal academy’s national organizations.

She retired from Seattle University School of Law in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, Professor Lustbader began phased retirement from the Law School in order to enable her to shift her focus to her work as president of Robert’s Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering civility in the legal profession. In that role, she has undertaken a variety of initiatives. In addition to writing articles about civility, she is developing curriculum, programs, and seminars to promote civility; she is facilitating conversations on civility with focus groups; and she is making multiple presentations and providing consulting to law firms and other legal professional organizations.

In 2014, Professor Lustbader became the president of Alfie’s Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to help change a life. She is currently spearheading the foundation’s first initiative, Alfie Scholars at Seattle University, whose mission is to make the dream of a bachelor’s degree achievable for diverse transfer students who are committed to fostering civility.

View Professor Lustbader's resume

Craig Sims, J.D.

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Craig Sims

Trial Attorney, Schroeter Goldmark & Bender

Craig is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 20 years of litigation and leadership experience.  His calling “to be of service to others” is what drew him to Schroeter Goldmark & Bender representing victims of asbestos exposure. Craig’s focus is to seek accountability while honoring the lives of his clients and their families.  Craig has a proven track record litigating cases including large verdict wins and settlements exceeding $20 million.  He has been the lead trial lawyer in multiple trials with successful settlements and plaintiff verdicts, including the largest asbestos jury award in the state of Oregon.

Craig’s focus on asbestos trial work began in late 2015.  Prior to his asbestos litigation practice, Craig served as the Criminal Division Chief in the Seattle Attorney’s Office where he led a team of more than sixty attorneys and staff.  Craig has also served as a Senior King County Prosecutor. While on assignment with the Most Dangerous Offender Program, he prosecuted a number of homicides and high-profile cases; seeking justice while advocating for those who’d been harmed.

Craig has taught as an adjunct professor at Seattle University School of Law and a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington Law School. He’s a member and past-president of the Loren Miller Bar Association, which gave him the Excellence in the Legal Profession award in 2013. Craig is also a member of the Washington State Bar Association, and a board member for the Washington State Bar Leadership Institute. The King County Bar Association designated him Mentor of the Year for the Young Lawyers Division in 2013.

Craig has traveled the country consulting on issues of diversity and equity.  He is often asked to speak at lawyer trainings on all aspects of trial presentations.  He also enjoys spending time with his family and barbequing year round.

Justice Mary I. Yu, M.A., J.D.

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Justice Mary Yu

Justice, Washington State Supreme Court

Mary Yu was appointed to the Washington Supreme Court effective May 16, 2014, and subsequently elected for the remainder of a two-year term. Justice Yu joined the Supreme Court after more than 14 years as an accomplished trial court judge in King County Superior Court where she presided over a wide variety of criminal, civil, and juvenile cases, and presided over hundreds of adoptions and other family law matters. As a trial court judge, Justice Yu became known for treating everyone with respect and fairness, approaching each case with an open mind and understanding that each decision has an impact on an individual’s life.

Prior to becoming a judge, Justice Yu served as Deputy Chief of Staff to King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and as a deputy in the Criminal and Civil Divisions. Before attending law school, Justice Yu worked in the Peace and Justice Office for the Archdiocese of Chicago first as staff, and later appointed by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin as Director of that Office.

Justice Yu has a deep record of service both on and off the bench, mentoring young attorneys, law clerks and students, co-chairing the Court’s Minority and Justice Commission, teaching at Seattle University School of Law and serving as Jurist in Residence, co-chairing the Washington State Bar Association/University of Washington Law School Leadership Institute, serving on the board of FareStart and the advisory board for the University of Washington School of Law’s Gates Public Service Program. She is personally devoted to the Civility Project of the Robert’s Fund Foundation and to the Seattle Girls’ School Mock Trials, serving as their judge for the last eleven years.

Justice Yu was raised in Bridgeport, a south side neighborhood in Chicago, by immigrant parents; her mother came from Mexico and her father from China. She is the first in her family to graduate from college. She received her B.A. from Dominican University, M.A., Religious Studies from Mundelein College of Loyola University in Chicago, and J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Justice Yu is the recipient of the following awards: 2015 "Woman of the Year" from the Seattle University School of Law and Women's Law Caucus; 2014 “Judge of the Year” from the Washington State Association for Justice; 2014 “Betty B. Fletcher Judge of the Year” Award from Washington Women Lawyers, King County Chapter; 2013 “Public Official of the Year” from the Municipal League Foundation; 2013 Latina/o Amicus Award from Seattle University School of Law Latina/o Law Student Association; 2012 “President’s Award” from the Asian Bar Association of Washington; 2012 “Difference Makers Award” from the American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division; the 2011 “Judge of the Year” award from the Washington State Bar Association (shared with Justice Gonzalez); 2011 Seattle Girls’ School Grace Hopper Award; 2009 Norm Maleng Award from the Washington State Bar Association; 2008 “Judge of the Year” from the Asian Bar Association; 2008 President’s Award from Washington Women Lawyers; 2006 “Model of Excellence” Award from the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington; the 2005 “Judge of the Year” award from the American Board of Trial Advocates; and the 2005 Reah Whitehead Public Leadership Award from Seattle University School of Law.