Tobin S. Klusty joined the Blankenship Law Firm in 2021. He is a civil rights attorney who zealously advocates for his clients at all stages of litigation. He strongly believes the legal system should be used to protect and advance civil liberties and individual rights.
Prior to joining the firm, Tobin gained several years of litigation experience working as a public defender and later as a private criminal defense and civil rights attorney. He successfully litigated dozens of motions and jury trials, worked with multiple experts on complicated legal issues, handled civil rights cases involving police misconduct and excessive force in state and federal court, and managed appeals in Washington State appellate courts. Tobin is also the former Chair of the Washington State Bar Association’s Civil Rights Law Section, where he worked with civil rights advocates and community stakeholders to educate members and promote the advancement of civil liberties for Washington State residents.
Before practicing law in Washington, Tobin graduated cum laude at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago. He was a teaching assistant for legal writing courses and used his writing skills at the American Medical Association (AMA), where he worked as a summer scholar in the Ethics Department and wrote several articles published in the AMA Journal of Ethics. During his last year in law school, he helped attorneys defend clients against murder charges at Cook County’s Law Office of the Public Defender. He was also inducted into the Order of Barristers – an honor society that recognizes law students who demonstrate exceptional skill in trial advocacy – for his role as captain of DePaul’s mock trial team.
Education
- J.D. – DePaul University, cum laude
- B.A. – Michigan State University
Bar Licenses
- Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Organizations
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington Employment Lawyers Association
- WSBA Civil Rights Law Section – Immediate Past Chair
- American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights & Social Justice