Washington Courts

As part of their READ Campaign, members of the Washington Supreme Court and State Law Library are shipping more than 300 boxes of books to school libraries across the state that put in requests for the books.

The READ Campaign is a collaborative project between Supreme Court Justices, the Law Library, and the Minority and Justice Commission to provide books to school libraries across the state on various themes. This year, the theme was disability/ability/inclusion.

Each shipment also included bookmarks featuring a Supreme Court Justice talking about the importance of reading.

A new episode of the AOC’s podcast, “Washington Courts Report” is now live! In our August episode, host Patric Haerle deep dives into Washington’s Courthouse Facilitator Program, featuring an interview with Becky Turbyfill, a courthouse facilitator for Kitsap county, and AOC’s own Kayley Carrillo, a court program analyst for Washington’s Courthouse Facilitator Program.

Featuring discussions on:
• The role of facilitators in Washington courts;
• The distinction between procedural guidance and legal advice;
• Facilitator programs around the state and their differences;
• The most rewarding part of being a courthouse facilitator.

Don't miss out on this great conversation! Tune in monthly on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. You can also catch each episode upon release at: http://www.courts.wa.gov/washingtoncourtsreport

Washington Courts Report Episode 03 - Washington's Courthouse Facilitator Program In our August episode, host Patric Haerle deep dives into Washington’s Courthouse Facilitator Program, featuring an interview with Becky Turbyfill, a courtho...

PIERCE COUNTY RESOURCE FAIR FRIDAY: If the justice system has impacted your life or you are struggling with housing, you may find help at the "Beyond Boundaries Summer Resource Fair" on Friday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the Pierce County District Court Resource Center are among the sponsors of this extensive resource fair, hosted by WorkSource at 925 Tacoma Ave. South.

The Fair will provide information on/assistance with legal services, driver licenses, housing, employment, reentry services, cell phones, how to get old simple possession convictions vacated (and fines reimbursed) under the Supreme Court's Blake decision, as well as free food for the first 300 attendees, and much more.

Find out more about this great event at https://worksource-pierce.org/event/beyond-boundaries-summer-resource-fair-2/ .

Beyond Boundaries Summer Resource Fair – WorkSource Pierce Sponsor: WorkSource PierceContact Name: Louis IhrigContact Email: [email protected] Language Option: English,Russian,Ukrainian

The Washington State Center for Court Research (WSCCR) has launched a Racial and Ethnic Disparity Dashboard, an online tool allowing WSCCR to update and display comprehensive data on disparity in court-involvement for people according to race, ethnicity, and gender.

The dashboard presents data on disparity measures and disparity drivers such as case filings and charges relative to population, which can be filtered by county, court level and quarter. WSCCR is the research arm of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).
Find the new dashboard at https://www.courts.wa.gov/content/research/index_SWdash.html

The Washington Supreme Court this afternoon issued orders in three elections cases following deliberations throughout the day of Walsh v. Hobbs, No. 103174-2; Defend Washington v. Hobbs, No. 102996-9; and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund v. Hobbs, No. 103260-9.

The orders provide the decisions in the cases, with full written opinions to follow. Find all three on our Supreme Court Orders page at https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/index.cfm?fa=opinions.scorders .

Walsh v. Hobbs concerns whether public investment impact disclosures related to three initiatives should appear on the ballot. Defend Washington v. Hobbs and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund v. Hobbs, No. 103260-9, both concern whether the Secretary of State’s method for checking initiative signatures is adequate.

Washington State Courts - Opinions - Washington Supreme Court Orders

Election Cases Before the WA Supreme Court on Friday:

Washington Supreme Court justices will meet Friday, August 9 to consider three elections cases. Walsh v. Hobbs, No. 103174-2, concerns whether public investment impact disclosures related to three initiatives should appear on the ballot. Defend Washington v. Hobbs, No. 102996-9 and Washington Conservation Action Education Fund v. Hobbs, No. 103260-9, both concern whether the Secretary of State’s method for checking initiative signatures is adequate.

The Justices will meet in a closed session, similar to a jury deliberation, and announce their decision once it has been made.

To read the legal briefs and other documents filed for this case (these are the legal arguments being deliberated by justices), visit our Appellate Court Public Document Portal at https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/?fa=atc.display_divs&folderID=div1&fileID=documentsearchportal . Choose “Supreme Court Documents,” and and input the case number for the specific case, 1031742, 1029969, and 1032609 respectively.

Lack of housing options after transitioning out of foster care... Lack of adult mentors for guidance about adulthood... Barriers to accessing food assistance... Transportation needs for homeless youth to get help... Abuse awareness and prevention...

This week, young people who have experienced foster care or homelessness in Washington gathered for the 2024 Mockingbird Youth Leadership Summit. The summit brings these young advocates together to learn from each other, talk about the major problems faced by youth in or transitioning from foster care or who find themselves homeless, and develop ideas for programs or laws to help these struggling populations.

On Day Two of the summit, regional chapters of youth present their ideas to the Washington State Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care -- co-chaired by Washington Supreme Court Justice Barbara Madsen -- and the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protections Programs Advisory Committee.

This important annual gathering provides insight and guidance from youth to organizations and leaders trying to develop solutions. The Administrative Office of the Courts Family and Youth Justice Programs is a sponsor. We appreciate the courage and thoughtfulness of the young people who joined this event to help make things better.

To learn more about the Mockingbird Society, visit their web page at https://mockingbirdsociety.org/.

If you like to learn about new information sources -- and who doesn't? -- check out the new blog post by our Washington State Law Library researchers:

"For this blog post, we venture into the , , , and spaces to find some fun and informative law-related socials to consider adding to your following list. Our intent is to show what’s available in the social-sphere and inclusion here is not an endorsement of the views expressed by their creators."

Like and Follow — Keeping up With the Law on Social Media Are you on Insta? Facebook? X (formerly known as Twitter)? TikTok? LinkedIn? Snapchat? If you have a portable electronic device, the…

JUDICIAL BRANCH JOBS -- Court program supervisor, senior financial services analyst, judicial administrative assistant (Spokane), deputy Supreme Court bailiff... a number of positions have opened recently at the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Visit our Careers page at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/courtswa?sort=PostingDate%7CDescending and consider joining (or changing positions within) the judicial branch!

The second episode of AOC’s official podcast, “Washington Courts Report” is now live! In our July episode on Family Reunification Month, host Patric Haerle interviews Tonia McClanahan, co-chair of the Family Reunification Day Steering Committee. Tonia talks about the parental experience within the dependency process, the importance of reunification, events being held this summer celebrating family reunification, and what makes them successful.

Keep an eye out for new episodes releasing monthly by subscribing to the Washington Courts YouTube page or by following Washington Courts Report on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can also catch each episode upon release at: http://www.courts.wa.gov/washingtoncourtsreport

Washington Courts Report Episode 02 - Family Reunification Month with Tonia McClanahan In our July episode, host Patric Haerle interviews Tonia McClanahan, co-chair of the Family Reunification Day Steering Committee. Tonia talks about the paren...

During Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, July 21-27, we would like to recognize supervision staff and officers across the state who serve our communities. This is crucial but often invisible work keeping watch to protect public safety, improve individual outcomes and support the judicial process.

For this week, we hope you consider seeking more information about what these critical roles involve around our state. For example, the Health Care Authority partners with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to participate in a Pretrial Diversion option for work in a service program rather than arrest.

Our gratitude goes out to Washington's hard-working supervision officers and all they do to help both individuals and communities!

Equal access to the courts can be hard to achieve for persons who are representing themselves in court, for those with disabilities, for those with barriers such as having low incomes, coming from marginalized communities and living in rural areas.

The Court Equity and Access Program of the Administrative Office of the Courts was established to help eliminate barriers and enhance equal access to justice. The program has launched a new web page that details its mission and its new 5-year strategic plan, that lists resources such as Courthouse Facilitators and Self-Help Centers, and includes materials such as posters and documents.

Visit the new web page at https://www.courts.wa.gov/equityandaccess/ to learn more about this important program!

The Washington Supreme Court is seeking public input on proposed changes to the Court’s adopted standards for public defense.

The proposed new standards would include lowering the maximum caseloads for public defense attorneys, revising some qualification requirements for public defense attorneys, and setting minimum support staffing requirements for public defense attorneys and offices.

Comments must be received by October 31, 2024.

“Public defense in Washington is facing a crisis of attrition and an inability to recruit staff brought about by excessive workloads and poor compensation. Attorneys are resigning from the public defense profession in droves because they cannot continue the work given the volume of cases,” wrote the WSBA and the CPD in the summary of the requested amendments.

Read more about the proposed changes, where and how to send in comments, and other information in our press release at https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=50456

The Washington Supreme Court has accepted a case, Walsh v. Hobbs #103174-2, regarding a question of law involving fiscal impact statements on ballots for certain initiatives in the November election. Following an expedited briefing schedule, Supreme Court justices will deliberate in a closed-door “en banc” conference (similar to a jury deliberation) August 9th. Legal briefs and other documents for this case can be found by visiting the Appellate Court Public Document Portal, choosing “Supreme Court Documents,” and inputting the case number with no dash.

Washington State Courts - Appellate and Trial Courts The Appellate Court Public Document Portal was developed to provide the public with online access to files and documents for cases filed with the Washington State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals after January 1, 2020. No registration is needed to search for documents and the service is free of ch...

Was your comment on a recent proposed change in court rules received? Please check!

Technical issues with a new web page may have interfered with the receipt and processing of some public comments on proposed Washington court rule changes set to be considered for adoption by the Washington Supreme Court at its July 10 administrative en banc conference. Because of this concern, the Court’s Rules Committee recommended the Court defer action in order to ensure that all comments can be received and considered.

Anyone who has submitted a comment through the Court Rules web page since January 1, 2024, and whose comment is not posted on the website, can resubmit the comment to [email protected] no later than August 23, 2024. The Court will plan to take action on these pending rules at its September en banc administrative conference.

See our media advisory for more details on how to check if your comments was received, and how to resubmit a comment if it cannot be found: https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=50453

As many new laws and budgetary provisions of Washington's 2024 Legislature take affect this summer, it can prompt a person to try to remember -- what DID happen this Legislative session? The reference experts at the Washington State Law Library have you covered!

In their latest blog post, our intrepid information experts provide an overview of the session and then a run-down (with links) of the major laws approved, by general categories. And if you still crave more details, they provide links to other reports on the session.

The 2024 Legislative Session in Review The 2024 legislative session is in the books and most of the laws passed are already in effect! Despite this session being the shorter of…

As we head into the Independence Day holiday, with many reminders about the importance of elections, we would like to highlight TVW's "Elections Explained" series.

The series is part of the "Teach With TVW" program which provides great information on the Washington State Constitution, statewide elected positions, voting districts and precinct officers,, ballot initiatives, and much more. The program also provides videos on the many aspects of the "Office of the Citizen," the branches of government and the legislative process.

Being an informed and engaged citizen is a great way to celebrate the founding of our nation. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

ELECTIONS 2024 - Teach With TVW Teach with TVW offers updated curriculum and videos to understand the nine statewide elected offices, the candidates running for them, and the role of political parties – all through the lens of today’s current issues. Additionally, students will learn about the ever important Office of the Citi...

Pierce County families, judicial officers, court staff and child welfare workers celebrated Family Reunification at a picnic last week in Wapato Park with games, snacks, information booths, and speakers sharing their stories.

The crucial importance of reunifying children and parents, after parents have worked hard at learning and improving, is being celebrated by courts and communities across Washington this summer. Visit our Family Reunification page at https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/index.cfm?fa=newsinfo.familyreunification to see if your community is celebrating and to learn more.

Research and reform work on court fines and fees ("legal financial obligations"); jury demographic research; exploration of growing incarceration of girls and women, artificial intelligence, reparations for Black Americans, and health impacts of judges' decisions; expansion of local Youth and Law Forum events across Washington...

The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission has released a report detailing its work during the busy and challenging years of 2019 - 2023, with cover artwork, ‘Perseverance,’ created by Seattle resident Joline El-Hai.

"We are pleased and honored to share these highlights with you in the following pages and hope the images and stories will inspire you to join us in our mission," wrote Commission Co-Chairs Justice Mary Yu and Judge Veronica Galván. "It takes the collective action of us all to work towards the goal of ensuring a more fair and bias-free legal system in the State of Washington."

Read the full report here:https://www.courts.wa.gov/committee/pdf/MJC%202023%20Annual%20Report_pages%20high%20res%20Optimized.pdf

Resilient leadership, public opinion of the courts, improving relationships with the media, and engaging employees were key topics of the second annual Better Together Leadership Summit for presiding judges and court administrators, held this week in Vancouver.

Hosted by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), the Leadership Summit brings together 40 teams of presiding judges and court administrators from across Washington State. It was developed to present leadership and team-building skills for court leaders who are often isolated from each other and other professions.

"Some of you are isolated physically, sometimes by hundreds of miles, some in single judge courts. Even in multiple judge courts, a high degree of psychological isolation can exist," Washington State Court Administrator Dawn Marie Rubio told participants. "This Leadership Summit grew out of this concern, as well as the belief that there are unique skills needed to lead and sustain major change in loosely-coupled organizations such as courts."

The Administrative Office of the Courts has launched a brand-new podcast! Introducing “Washington Courts Report” where we dive into the heart of our state’s court system as we cover some of the most exciting developments within the AOC and throughout Washington’s courts.

Our debut episode is now live! Join us as we explore Washington's Therapeutic Court Month, featuring:

• A special proclamation from the governor
• The launch of Washington's Therapeutic Court Alumni Association
• Unveiling a groundbreaking tool to assess racial and ethnic disparities in therapeutic courts
• Washington's representation at a prestigious national conference for treatment and therapeutic court professionals

Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion! Tune in monthly on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. You can also catch each episode upon release at http://www.courts.wa.gov/washingtoncourtsreport

Washington Courts Report Episode 01 - Therapeutic Courts - June 2024 In our debut episode, we cover Washington’s Therapeutic Court Month, including a recent proclamation from the governor, the launch of Washington’s Therapeuti...

Family reunification will be celebrated by courts at public events this week in Yakima, Pierce and Mason counties (Thursday), and in Chelan County (Friday). All celebrations are in parks or outdoor areas around mid-day and include refreshments, activities and more. The public is welcome!

To find details of each celebration, visit our Family Reunification Month web page at https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/index.cfm?fa=newsinfo.familyreunification where flyers and information are posted for events across the state this summer. Family reunification celebrations highlight the crucial importance of bringing families back together after parents have worked hard to learn and improve, with support from court staff, child welfare workers, attorneys and the community.

The "Science of Hope" Week is underway this week with a series of presentations hosted by state justice leaders and the non-profit organization, Hope Rising WA. The presentations are happening across Washington to raise awareness of the “science of hope” and how hope-centered organizations can improve well-being for customers and employees.

“Hope is the belief that the future will be better than today and you have the power to make it so,” said Dr. Chan Hellman, Ph.D, who will lead the presentations throughout the week.

Hope Rising WA is a collaborative effort that includes the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Family and Youth Justice Programs (FYJP), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, community partners and philanthropic organizations all working to integrate the science of hope into policies and practices.

Learn more in our press release at https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=50436

If you were you convicted of drug possession in Washington State, or know someone who was, you or they may be eligible for having that conviction cleared (vacated) and for a refund of any fines or fees paid, due to the Washington Supreme Court's "State v. Blake" decision.

To learn more, you are invited for a free virtual conversation on Tuesday, June 25 from noon to 1 p.m. -- on Zoom or over phone -- about what this case means for people with these convictions going back to 1971. This virtual coffee break is sponsored by Living With Conviction.

You can register for this free webinar at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtAXR0s9SoqWbpL3e_dvM_Ub3Vq9QhP7OdNpZYZ1QtCMyAZw/viewform?pli=1. For more information, email [email protected] .

The Blake Coffee Break - Free Registration Event Timing: June 25, 2024, 12pm-1pm Event Address: Via Zoom or phone Questions? Get in touch: (206) 307-3028 or [email protected]

Court technology educator, business intelligence specialist, solutions architect, court association coordinator, appellate business analyst...a number of new positions have been posted in the past week for the Administrative Office of the Courts. Visit our Careers page and consider joining AOC!

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/courtswa

Interested in AI's impact on legal research? Look no further than the most recent blog post by the researchers of the Washington State Law Library.

"Generative AI is good at making documents that look like a known or commonly used format, but it is not a legal research tool and should not be used (or trusted) with legal analysis. At least not yet."

Read their informative and timely commentary and many linked news reports and other resources at

AI Legal Research for Busy Lawyers Legal news has been rife with discussion of new artificial intelligence (AI) products and predictions regarding the impact of AI on lawyers…

Issues surrounding criminal sentencing were explored today when the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission (MJC,) today presented a symposium to justices of the state Supreme Court titled, "A Legacy of Harm: Examining the Impacts of Our Sentencing Paradigm." The presentation was broadcast live and recorded by TVW at https://tvw.org/video/washington-supreme-court-minority-and-justice-commission-symposium-2024061073/?eventID=2024061073.

The symposium was divided into three topic areas: the history of sentencing laws in Washington; the efficacy and impact of sentencing laws on public safety; and a panel discussion on pathways forward and recommendations for the Court.

Washington Supreme Court Minority and Justice Commission Symposium - TVW The Minority and Justice Commission holds its annual Supreme Court Symposium entitled "A Legacy of Harm: Examining the Impacts of Our Sentencing Paradigm."

What is the Science of Hope? A series of presentations are planned by state justice partners across Washington during Hope Week, June 24-26, to raise awareness of the “science of hope” and how it can affect engagement, mental well-being, effectiveness and outcomes.

Hope Rising WA is a collaborative effort that includes the Administrative Office of the Courts’ office of Family and Youth Justice Programs (FYJP), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, community providers and philanthropy organizations in working to integrate the science of hope into policies and practices.

The goal is to make good outcomes more achievable and to improve staff and participant well-being by raising hope levels. “Hope is the belief that the future will be better than today and you have the power to make it so,” said Dr. Chan Hellman, Ph.D, co-author of the book Hope Rising, who will lead the presentations during Hope Week.

Learn more about the presentations, and how to become a Hope Navigator, on the HopeRisingWA web page.

Hope Rising Washington | Hope Social Services | Washington Hope Rising Washington offers transformative Hope Science Training & Leadership for organizations & communities. Join us in fostering hope for a brighter future!

Students of Foss High School in Tacoma got a chance this week to see two appeals argued in front of a panel of judges from the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II. Learn more about the visit and the cases in our press release here: https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=50421