Learn more about The Washington Courts Historical Society and its mission.  Some background information from their website is provided below.

We have a list of the Washington Courts Historical Society’s 2009 Presentations, with complete video/audio coverage courtesy of TVW. Click any title in the list, starting with “In the Beginning (The Territorial Court),” to watch the presentation.

[NOTE: The Temple of Justice Project is not affiliated with the Historical Society, but we do work with members of the organization and share common goals with respect to the history and work of the Washington State Supreme Court.]

Mission and Vision

The Washington Courts Historical Society is a membership organization whose purpose is to promote a greater public understanding of the significance of the law and legal institutions in our State’s history. It accomplishes this through the collection, preservation, and dissemination of written and oral history, significant artifacts, memorabilia and information related to the court and the legal profession of the State of Washington.

This vision will be shaped, developed and accomplished within the context of the Society’s significant values. These activities include: the sharing of knowledge about the Washington State constitution; the promotion of pride in the legal profession and in the legal process; the enhancing of the public’s impression of the legal profession; the promotion of an appreciation of the institutions and contributions of the legal system; and the preservation of history.

Founding/History

The original idea to form an organization to preserve Washington State’s legal history came from Supreme Court Justices Gerry Alexander and Philip Talmadge. With the support of then Chief Justice Barbara Durham, a committee was formed to begin planning. The goal of this group was to preserve the rich historical heritage of all levels of the Washington Court System as well as of the Bar Association. The committee’s vision was to make the Washington Courts Historical Society’s purpose and focus statewide.