Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Chief Justice Fairhurst Releases 2018 State of the Judiciary Report

A Pretrial Reform Task Force, an ambitious Civic Learning Initiative, a symposium with detailed information on jury diversity in Washington, a new directory of diverse judges, a renewed examination of gender issues in courts, newly translated court forms, new research into the characteristics of females in the juvenile justice system, a new model language plan and much more were efforts of Washington’s judicial branch in 2017 to increase fairness and access in the courts.

Judges and branch leaders also worked on challenges involving a statewide need for more interpreters, lack of funding for court security, the impact on courts of the nationwide opioid crisis, unstable funding for judicial education and training, needed upgrades in court technology, and other issues.

Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst discusses the progress and challenges of the state judicial branch in the written 2018 State of the Judiciary report, released today.

“This report only hints at the tremendous amount of daily work and challenges faced by court staff members, judicial officers and judicial branch personnel across the state,” said Chief Justice Fairhurst. “I am proud to highlight some of their efforts. I am also proud to serve in a branch with a dedicated group of people willing to work hard to maintain a quality justice system for the people of Washington.”

The State of the Judiciary report is delivered by the chief justice each year to the other branches of government and Washington residents to provide an account of the work of the courts and the primary issues facing the judicial branch. 

The chief justice is the lead spokesperson and administrative head of the judicial branch, and is elected every four years by the nine justices of the Court.

For more information on the Supreme Court, visit http://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/SupremeCourt/?fa=supremecourt.welcome