CLE Seminar Speaker

Phil Talmadge

Phil Talmadge is a graduate of West Seattle High School as a National Merit scholar. He has a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Yale and a J.D. from the University of Washington where he was on the Law Review.

Phil served in the Washington State Senate from 1979 to 1995. He chaired the Judiciary and Health Care Committees in the Senate, where he was a leader in court reform, alternative dispute resolution, crime victims rights, domestic violence prevention, public health, mental health, and health care reform. He served on the Washington Supreme Court from 1995 to 2001. He promoted privacy of court records and court reform.

He has taught appellate advocacy at the Seattle University and University of Washington Law Schools. He is the author of a number of articles on legal issues. Phil has built and operated a small business, Talmadge Law Group PLLC. He is a fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

Phil has been honored for his public service by the Alliance of Children, Youth, and Families, the Washington Council on Crime and Delinquency, WSTLA, the State Patrol Troopers, the Washington Psychological Association, the Council on Problem Gambling, the University of Washington Law School, and Washington's prosecutors.

Phil has been active in a variety of youth, arts, educational, and community organizations. He chaired the King County Active Sports and Youth Recreation Commission. He participates in adult baseball.

Phil and his wife Darlene have five children. Darlene is an elementary school teacher in Seattle.