To spot the Washington Supreme Court, look for the grand, classical building known as the Temple of Justice, with stately columns and stone steps right in front of you-if you see something that looks like it belongs in ancient Greece, you’ve found it!
Now, let’s dive into the dramatic and delightful tale of the Washington Supreme Court. Picture this: you’re standing before the mighty Temple of Justice, where big decisions echo down marble hallways and history is still being written. Imagine the crisp Olympia air, the low murmur of conversation as justices in black robes glide up the steps, and the feeling that behind those heavy doors, something important is about to happen.
The Washington Supreme Court is the top legal powerhouse in the state-a place where nine justices, including a chief justice, settle all sorts of legal puzzles and questions. Their terms are six years long, just long enough to grow the perfect confident stare, and with every job comes a deadline: justices have to retire at the end of the year they turn 75. You know, even judges need to take a break eventually!
There’s a little bit of magic in how the chief justice is picked. Long ago, a complicated system rotated the honor among justices close to finishing their terms-kind of like musical chairs, but more serious and with more paperwork. Then, the brilliant Barbara Durham came along in the 1990s, said, “Let’s do a secret vote!” and created the system we use today. Now, the chief is chosen by a secret ballot among the justices for a four-year stretch. The current chief is Debra L. Stephens-she’s held the gavel more than once and is known for her steady hand during big cases.
The cases that echo out of this building don’t just shape Washington-they often ripple across the whole country. In fact, legal scholars say Washington’s Supreme Court decisions are some of the most followed by other states, second only to California. Not bad for a state known for rain and coffee!
The court’s history is packed with colorful characters and surprising firsts. When Washington first became a state, judges “drew lots” to decide who’d serve the shortest term-imagine picking your fate out of a hat to see if you’d be in charge. Over the years, changes came fast: judges resigned, new ones got appointed, and in 1905 the court grew from five to seven, then eventually to its present size of nine. When Carolyn Dimmick sat on the bench in 1981, she made history as the first woman justice, and soon after, Barbara Durham broke another ceiling as the first female chief justice. Charles Z. Smith became the first African American member in 1988, and Mary Yu checked three boxes at once-LGBT, Asian American, and Latina-when she joined in 2014.
And don’t worry-this court isn’t just about tradition. With the recent appointment of Helen Whitener, the Washington Supreme Court has been called one of the most diverse high benches in America. Picture nine judges, each bringing a unique background and a fresh perspective to the bench.
Of course, some cases here have been true blockbusters: They decided the state wasn’t funding education enough in McCleary v. Washington, and recently, the court even tossed out the death penalty because it was applied unfairly. And in 2021, the court said that Washington’s tax on capital gains was just fine. Sometimes their rulings are so big you can almost hear the news reporters typing up a storm.
So next time you hear about a huge decision “from the Temple of Justice,” you’ll know exactly where it happened-and just what kind of lively, legendary history walks these halls. Now, ready to keep exploring? Let’s make history ourselves, one stop at a time!
