Washington Courts: News and Information

Washington State Supreme Court Symposium to Spotlight Tribal Sovereignty and Indigenous Justice on June 11

The Washington State Supreme Court Symposium sponsored by the Minority and Justice Commission (MJC) will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at the Temple of Justice in Olympia and explore tribal sovereignty, justice, and Indigenous humanity.

The Symposium is scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. An evening address from Chief Justice Debra Stephens, Judge Lori K. Smith and Judge Cindy Smith will follow the Symposium from 5:00-6:00p.m. The event will be livestreamed on TVW with a recording available for viewing following the event. Interested participants can register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5K95YVD for virtual or in-person attendance. 

This year’s Symposium is titled, “TÁCELSW_ SIÁM: A Call to Justice for Indigenous Peoples” and will cover tribal sovereignty, self-determination and the various ways the state struggles to fully recognize Indigenous humanity. TÁCELSW_ SIÁM is a Salish term for welcoming a respected person.

This is the first Supreme Court Symposium held at the Temple of Justice since 2019, and the first in MJC history that will run a full day, with past symposiums running for half a day.

“This year’s Symposium is an opportunity for the Court and the public to learn what justice means for Indigenous Peoples,” Justice Mary Yu, co-chair of the MJC said. “We have invited scholars and experts who will teach us about the past, and ways to support Native self-determination in the future. We invite everyone to approach the day with open hearts and minds so that together we can deepen our recognition of Indigenous humanity.”

Presenters will highlight the various state, tribal, residential and human complexities that arise within the context of domestic violence protection orders, the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous Persons, child welfare and responses to intergenerational trauma.

In-person attendees will also be shown a screening of the Oscar nominated film Sugarcane, the award-winning debut feature documentary that follows a groundbreaking investigation into an Indian residential school, shedding light on years of forced separation, assimilation and abuse that Indigenous children experienced at the hands of church and government.

King County Superior Court Judge and MJC co-chair Judge Veronica Galván highlighted the Symposium as a vital opportunity to reflect on justice and tribal sovereignty.

“State and federal systems have been responsible for grave injustices towards tribal nations through broken treaties and policies that have harmed generations of Native families,” Galván said. “The June 11 Symposium is an opportunity to collaborate and learn about concepts of justice and the rule of law; to better understand the importance of culture and tradition in improving outcomes for families; and the importance of respecting the sovereign status of our tribal nations.”

The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission was established by the state Supreme Court in 1990 to determine whether racial and ethnic bias exists in the courts of Washington and to take creative steps to overcome and prevent them. The Commission grew out of a task force established in 1988 at the urging of state legislators.

Contact: Administrative Office of the Courts Communications Officer Patric Haerle, Patric.Haerle@courts.wa.gov; 360-712-1892; Minority and Justice Senior Court Program Analyst Frank Thomas, Frank.Thomas@courts.wa.gov; Minority and Justice Court Program Specialist Molly Gough, MollyGough@courts.wa.gov.