David joined Aspey, Watkins & Diesel, PLLC (AWD) in 2022 after thirty years as in-house intellectual property and business law counsel for W. L. and Gore & Associates, Inc. in Flagstaff, AZ. At AWD, David has focused on representing start-up, small, and medium sized businesses, many driving employment growth in rural Arizona. David is very active with the nonprofit business incubator, Moonshot, serving on its board and as a business legal mentor. Since 2023, David has served on the State Bar Board of Governors and is currently chair of its Rules Committee. If elected to a second term on the Board of Governors, David will continue working diligently to serve the needs of District 1, the Arizona legal community, and the public it serves.

AI:

Recently, the practice of law has seen unprecedented upheaval.  Generative AI is changing how we deliver legal services and our clients’ expectations.  These tools offer great promise but can be dangerous in their delivery of incomplete, unreliable, and often false information.  Nonetheless, many in the public are embracing “my ChatGPT lawyer” for quick and free legal advice.  The Bar must leverage and manage these new tools without putting clients and our profession at risk. 

Rural Representation:

Arizona is 49th out of 50 states in lawyers per capita. Many of Arizona’s important and growing rural areas are “legal deserts.”  For Arizona to thrive outside of its major cities, we need to address this detrimental gap and make legal representation attainable for rural individuals and businesses. 

State Bar Relevance and Value:

The public needs to understand the Rule of Law and our central role as lawyers in protecting individual freedoms and in providing stability to our State and Nation.

The Arizona Bar must advance with this rapidly changing environment while remaining focused on the core function of the law and lawyers. In doing so, the State Bar provides relevance and value to its membership and the public it serves.

I attended Gonzaga Law School and graduated in 1996. I am barred in Washington, Arizona and Idaho. I served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate from 1997 until retirement. As a Judge Advocate, I served as a legal assistance attorney, a Federal Torts Claims Act attorney, prosecutor, Brigade Judge Advocate, ethics advisor, liaison to foreign courts, Senior Defense Counsel, and Chief of Military Justice. I left active duty in 2003 and joined a law firm where I ultimately became the managing partner. I opened The Russell's Law Firm, PLC in 2012. I focus our practice on personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and criminal defense.

I am a Managing Partner for Goldberg & Osborne. I have dedicated my practice to plaintiffs' personal injury since joining the firm in 1994. I have helped obtain verdicts over $1M, argued successfully before the 9th Circuit, and taught various CLE's.

I received my law degree from University of Arizona and have been licensed since 1992. I sat on the State Bar Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Advisory Commission from 2004 to 2025.

I have held leadership positions in my community including President of Reid Park Zoological Society, Capital Campaign Chairman for Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, and President of White Mountain CC. I have sat on the Board of Ben's Bells and Vestry Board of my church. I have also been acknowledged as Southern Arizona's Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year.

I seek reelection to the Board of Governors because I value the work lawyers do in every practice setting and believe the Board plays a meaningful role in supporting our profession. Through my current Board service and my work on the Rule of Law Committee, I have seen the importance of lawyers having practical tools, clear guidance, and a professional environment that allows them to serve clients effectively and maintain public confidence in Arizona's legal system.

Lawyers face significant challenges today, including rising practice demands and the growing complexity of client needs, particularly where access to justice remains limited for many Arizonans. Colleagues across the profession work hard to support clients, and many have asked for more skills-focused CLE opportunities and ethics guidance to help navigate these pressures.

With nearly twenty years of legal experience, I understand the balance between casework and the demands of running a practice. If reelected, I will work to expand practical resources, improve access to ethics and procedural guidance, support skills-focused CLE opportunities, and encourage initiatives that reduce administrative burdens. I will continue leading with clarity, integrity, and a commitment to strengthening our profession and the communities we serve. 

I proudly serve as Vice President of the Executive Council, Chair of the Appointments/Special Constitutional Appointments Committees, and a member of the Rule of Law Task Force. On behalf of the SBA, I am a Board Member and the Public Relations Chair of the Arizona Bar Foundation. I have also previously Chaired the Finance and Audit Committee, Investment Sub-Committee, Member Assistance Program Task Force, Strategic Plan Working Group, and HR Sub-Committee.

I am a Partner at Frazer Ryan Goldberg and Arnold in Phoenix, where I practice estate planning and probate/trust administration. I attended ASU (BA), Regent University (JD), and GCU (MBA).

I'm a wife, mom, dog mom, and Arizona native who enjoys hiking, crafting, and visiting historic sites like castles in my free time.

As a member of the Board of Governors for the past six years, I humbly ask for your vote. I strive to provide intentional leadership, financial transparency, and strategic planning to support the operations of the SBA. As Vice President of the Executive Council and through Chairing committees, including the Finance and Audit Committee, Appointments Committee, Strategic Plan Working Group, among others, I prioritize the needs of SBA members in our mission to serve and protect the public. As past Chair of the Investment Subcommittee, I helped oversee the investment of reserve funds to maintain member dues and co-authored the policy for the opportunity fund to support new initiatives. On behalf of the SBA, I further serve as a Board Member and Public Relations Chair of the Arizona Bar Foundation.

As a Partner at Frazer Ryan Goldberg and Arnold, where I actively practice estate planning, probate, and trust administration, I understand the needs as a Maricopa County practitioner. I would be honored to have your support so I may continue contributing to the thoughtful governance that protects the stability of the SBA and strengthens the rule of law in Arizona.

Robert "Bob" McWhirter hopes to continue to serve his peers and the public as a member of the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors.  Bob has been at the forefront of major issues affecting lawyers and lawyering.  He is a frequent presenter in CLEs both in Arizona and nationally.  His main commitment while on the Board of Governors is to maintain a high level of service to our members, show the public the good lawyers do, and protect the public. The significant issue facing us today as lawyers is keeping the profession dignified and fulfilling for all of us.  In addition, we have seen an unprecedented attack on the rule of law and judges.  Bob has spoken out against these attacks and will continue to do so. 

The most significant issue facing us today is the unauthorized practice of law and the erosion of public trust that will inevitably follow unless we do more to stop it.

The legal landscape has changed significantly, and we must find new and innovative ways to address the challenges that come with these changes. The many practice options for non-lawyers have created confusion in the public regarding who can provide legal services. Individuals involved in UPL have taken advantage of this confusion and are causing serious harm to consumers and our profession. Social media allows these people to amplify their voice, and I feel the Bar’s obligation to protect the public starts with addressing and enforcing UPL and providing effective communication to the public concerning legitimate services and predatory services.

If elected, I will encourage us to focus our efforts on strengthening and enforcing UPL. These issues are not only important to the Bar’s duty of protecting the public but also in serving the Bar’s constituency, which are the lawyers of this state. In addition, having served 11 years in the Army in telecommunications units, I am also interested in how the Bar addresses technology and its use in our profession.

The Board of Governors must strengthen our profession while ensuring it meets the needs of both lawyers and the communities we serve. Access to justice remains one of the most pressing issues in the legal profession today. Not only do individuals encounter barriers to legal representation, but future lawyers face substantial obstacles to entering the profession, including the high cost of education and limited access to resources. If elected, I will advocate for initiatives that reduce these barriers and expand pathways for all candidates to join and thrive in the legal field.

Equally important, I am passionate about fostering mentorship between law students, young lawyers, and more experienced members of the Bar. The future of our profession depends on strong guidance and support for those entering the field. As the President of the Young Lawyers Division, I worked to develop a mentorship program with the Senior Lawyer’s Division; if elected, I will continue to advocate for and champion programs that foster growth, inclusion, and professional excellence.

Finally, I will support resources and opportunities that help members responsibly and ethically adapt to the rapidly evolving legal landscape, and leverage technology in ways that enhance, rather than compromise, our professional standards.