Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

State of Washington’s Judiciary 2022: Adapting for Access and Safety, Analyzing What’s Next

Washington courts worked hard and creatively in 2021 to maintain access to justice during these difficult times. Hard questions were asked; old systems were questions; and new programs were adopted.

“It is fundamental to the justice system that we examine what we do,” said Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven C. González. “We must take insights we have gained and act on them, because the promise of equal and accessible justice must be kept.”

The 2022 State of the Judiciary report released today recaps some of the significant activities, efforts and challenges of the judicial branch faced in 2021. The report also summarizes several in-depth studies examining how gender and race affect justice, the uses and effects of court fines and fees, the incarceration of girls and women of color, the effects of providing trained legal representation for children in dependency cases, and more.

The State of the Judiciary is presented each year by the Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court to state lawmakers, elected officials and to the people of Washington to keep them informed of the status of their judicial branch.

“It has been a challenging but productive year, and our work with members of other branches and with stakeholders has been valuable in providing us with information and insights,” Chief Justice González said. “I want to thank my colleagues in the judicial branch for their tremendous efforts to keep courts working effectively in these unpredictable times, and for all of their extra effort toward determining how we move forward.”