James Robart, ’69, tops the list of Whitties in the news this month. On December 10, 2003, it was announced that Jim has been nominated to a position as a U.S. District judge of Western Washington. Born in Seattle, Robart has spent 30 years at Lane, Powell, Spears, Lubersky LLP in Seattle, where he is now the firm's managing partner. In addition to his work against Initiative 695, he is respected for his work in the areas of class-action lawsuits, commercial litigation, labor and employment issues and intellectual property matters. The U.S. Senate must confirm Robart's appointment, which could take several months, but Jim has the support of both of the state's Democratic senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray.

Robart graduated magna cum laude from Whitman College in 1969 and was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. in 1973 from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was administrative editor of the Georgetown Law Journal from 1972-73. He served on the board of governors of the Federal Circuit Bar Association from 1985-86 and as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was selected by his peers to be listed in the 1997-98 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of business litigation. Jim is also a long-time volunteer for his alma mater. From 1983-87 he served as a class representative and during the Campaign for Whitman in the early 1980s he served as a major fundraiser; he continues to be a major fundraiser for the College today. In past years, Jim served as an area activity coordinator for the Alumni Association in the Seattle area and has hosted alumni events in his home, and in 1994, he co-chaired his 25th reunion. A member of the Whitman College Board of Overseers from 1988-1999, Jim served as chair from 1997-1999. He has also served as chair of the budget review committee and in 1999 was appointed to the Board of Trustees. He is an active member of the Development Committee and is chair of the President’s Circle gift society. For his tireless work on Whitman’s behalf he was selected the 2003 winner of the Gordon Scribner Award for Distinguished Service.

In 1986, Robart and his wife Mari Jalbing established the Victor and Nora Robart Scholarship in honor of Jim’s parents. Jim and Mari currently reside in Seattle and have been foster parents to six children.