three federations. Later years In May 2006, Ireland wrote the majority opinion in a case where the state and private parties had sued the state's largest teachers' union for failing to comply with Initiative 134. The initiative, passed in 1992, prohibited unions from spending dues collected by non-members on political issues without first getting their permission. In the opinion, Ireland (serving as justice pro tempore) wrote the law was unconstitutional as it was "too heavy an administrative burden" on the union to get permission from each non-member. Subsequently, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Washington court's decision in Davenport v. Washington Education Association. Ireland and fellow former justice Robert F. Utter sued the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) in 2008 over allegations the BIAW had violated campaign finance laws in its support of Dino Rossi, the Republican candidate for governor. Running against Democratic incumbent Christine Gregoire, Rossi was accused of encouraging the BIAW to raise campaign funds for him before he had officially announced his candidacy. Rossi denied he had done anything illegal and claimed he could not recall details of his meetings with BIAW members, and called the lawsuit "a political stunt" by his opponents (Ireland and Utter had both donated money to Gregoire). In 2015, the Washington Supreme Court allowed the citizen suit to proceed, and denied the defendant's summary judgment motion. In April 2016, the plaintiffs settled with BIAW for $582,000, plus a penalty fee to the State of Washington. Civic involvement Ireland lives in South Seattle with her husband, Chuck Norem, and works as a private mediator and appellate consultant. She is the member of several boards of directors for local community groups, and was named "Chinese Man of the Year" for her work to help build the Wing Luke Asian Museum, even though she is neither Chinese nor a man. Ireland served as Vice-Chair of the Sheriff's Blue Ribbon Panel which in 2006 recommended sweeping reforms for the King County Sheriff's Office. Other positions in the legal community have included president of the local chapter of the American Judicature Society, member of the Council on Public Legal Education, chairperson of the Education Committee and member of the Appellate Judges Education Committee for the state supreme court, and the executive committee for the Council on Public Legal Education. Awards include being named as a distinguished alumni in 2000 at Willamette University, a woman of distinction