Washington Supreme Court, the highest court in the U.S. state of Washington
The Washington Supreme Court is the state's highest judicial body, housed in the Temple of Justice, a sandstone building on the state campus in Olympia. It handles over a thousand cases annually, addressing matters such as criminal law, family disputes, and property issues, while lower courts manage small claims and traffic citations.
The building was designed by architects from New York and construction began in 1912, finishing in 1920. The Supreme Court held its first sessions there in 1913 even as construction continued, indicating how urgently the state needed a dedicated judicial building.
The building is known as the Temple of Justice, a name reflecting the importance of the courts in state governance. Its quiet halls and open spaces create an atmosphere of respect for law and order within the community.
The court broadcasts all hearings live online and makes recordings available to the public afterward. Visitors can observe proceedings in person at the building or follow cases remotely, allowing flexible ways to learn about the judicial process.
The building was constructed with sandstone from nearby quarries and cost nearly one million dollars at the time, an enormous sum for that era. It closed during the late 1980s for earthquake safety improvements and sustained minor damage in the 2001 earthquake, but repairs kept it intact with many original features preserved.
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