Attorney General’s Senior Assistant Attorney General honored with leadership award from the Governor

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Rob McKenna is proud to announce that Senior Assistant Attorney General Michael Shinn has been selected for the 2007 Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management. The award gives special recognition to managers who have demonstrated excellence in carrying out their responsibilities.

Created in 1985, the Leadership in Management program recognizes those managers within state government who have demonstrated excellent performance. Shinn will be honored during a luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion today.

Shinn has taken extra steps to ensure the consistency of the legal services provided by the Regional Services Division. Approximately 100 attorneys and professional staff in seven offices throughout the state offer legal services to the Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Labor and Industries, Employment Security Department, Department of Licensing and numerous educational institutions, including Central Washington University and Western Washington University.

“Michael has faced the difficult challenge of using limited resources to address the escalating juvenile litigation caseload,” McKenna said. “In doing so, he did not dwell on those limitations, nor did he remain satisfied with the status quo. He took active, creative steps to increase the efficient handling of juvenile litigation cases. Michael exemplifies the very best qualities in an effective manager and richly deserves this award.”

Shinn began his career with the Attorney General’s Office in the Everett Regional Services Division and worked in three different divisions in Seattle before moving to the Vancouver Regional Services Division in 2003. He served as section chief for the Vancouver Regional Services Division from December 2003 to December 2005 when he was promoted to his current position as division chief for the entire Regional Services Division.

Shinn graduated from the University of Washington Law School with honors and served as associate editor of the Washington Law Review.

Shinn has won numerous state and national honors, including Best U.S. Supreme Court Brief from the National Association of Attorneys General in 2003 as a co-author of the petitioner’s brief in Locke v. Davey.

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Media Contact:  J. Ryan Shannon, Media Relations Manager, (360) 753-2727