MAY 20, 2026 – Theo Lesczynski, a litigator in the Seattle office of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, has been named the winner of the 2026 Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by the Washington State Bar Association.
The award, given for "a recent, singular achievement," recognized Lesczynski for her lead role in obtaining a groundbreaking appellate decision that strengthened protections for survivors of sexual violence.
Lesczynski "exemplifies exceptional courage and legal excellence," said the WSBA. "Her advocacy not only secured justice in a deeply sensitive matter, but also expanded the legal framework that empowers survivors to speak out and safeguard others."
The case arose when an employee and parishioner of a Yakima megachurch publicly alleged she'd been raped by the church's prominent pastor. The pastor, who claimed the encounter was consensual, sued for defamation.
In a sweeping, 100-page, published opinion, the Washington Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling and dismissed the pastor's complaint under Washington's Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA). The opinion provides a standard to identify and dismiss abusive defamation claims, allowing survivors to avoid prolonged litigation and ensuring they can speak freely about their experiences.
Lesczynski handled the successful argument before the appellate panel.
Said the WSBA: "In demonstrating clarity, compassion, and tenacity in the face of adversity, Lesczynski embodies the very purpose of the Award of Merit."
In addition to Lesczynski, the DWT team that handled this pro bono matter included partner Eric Stahl, counsel Caesar Kalinowski IV, and former associate Jennifer K. Chung. Co-counsel included Elliot Ergeson of Tamaki Law and Sarah Baldwin, formerly of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.
About Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with more than 600 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. The firm is widely recognized as a national pro bono leader. Learn more at www.dwt.com/impact.