Attorney General Bob Ferguson has honored Senior Counsel Andy Fitz with the Attorney General’s 2013 Steward of Justice Award. The award recognizes assistant attorneys general who further the cause of justice through exceptional legal work and extraordinary contributions to the people of Washington.
Fitz is a senior managing attorney in the Ecology Division of the Attorney General’s Office. Much of his work advocating on behalf of Washington’s citizens includes cases involving the Hanford nuclear plant in south-central Washington and the high level radioactive waste repository proposed to be located at Yucca Mountain, Nev.
“Andy is an extraordinary legal professional and public servant,” said Ferguson. “His legal work associated with Hanford is vital to the people of our state. Andy is regarded by his peers across the office, the state, and the nation as an outstanding public lawyer.”
About Andy Fitz
Fitz joined the office as a law clerk in 1991, and became an assistant attorney general in 1992. Early in his career, he provided legal counsel to the
Departments of Licensing and Employment Security.
In 1999, he joined the Ecology Division and quickly became a leading expert in the areas of hazardous and nuclear waste management and cleanup of contaminated sites. In 2004, Fitz assumed the role of lead attorney for Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program.
In that role, he leads a team of assistant attorneys general dedicated to protecting the environment and
the health of Washington residents.
Outside of work, Fitz is an avid rock climber. He has served on several boards of non-profit organizations that work to conserve and enhance the climbing environment for more than 1.6 million climbers nationwide. He and his wife, Martha Lantz, live in Tacoma.
About the Award
The Steward of Justice Award was created in 1998 by former Attorney General Christine Gregoire to recognize employees who made an extraordinary difference in the lives of others, both personally and professionally. Ferguson re-established the award this year. Fitz is the first Steward of Justice selected by Ferguson. The award was announced at the AGO Conference in early November.
