Washington State Law Library

05/28/2026

NEW BLOG POST: The 2026 Legislative Session in Review

This year the legislature packed a lot of big legislation into a short session. One of the biggest and most controversial was the new…

05/26/2026

Books are being shipped out to over 260 WA school libraries this week as part of the 2026 READ Campaign: Belonging is Beautiful! The READ Campaign is a wonderful collaboration between the WA State Minority and Justice Commission, WA State Supreme Court, and the State Law Library and is now in its fourth year of delivering free books to K-12 school libraries throughout the state.

The books for this year’s theme celebrate what it means to find belonging in your school, community, and profession, and how to make others feel like they belong. The fiction and non-fiction books feature individuals with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, individuals who have experienced incarceration, and characters who are just having a hard time fitting in.

We are thrilled to support WA school libraries again this year. Happy READing, students!

[Images: Tables filled with books and stacks of boxes ready for mailing.]

05/22/2026

The Law Library will close on Monday, March 25th in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, March 26th.

[Image: A folded American flag adorns the top of a dark background with white text announcing the Memorial Day closure.]

05/21/2026

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD brings awareness to digital accessibility issues for people with disabilities. More information can be found on the GAAD website: https://accessibility.day/.

The WA Administrative Office of the Courts is working to make their websites more accessible, including our own law library website. If you have suggestions for making the library website more accessible, we would love to hear them.

Additional resources for WA Courts, and a WA Capitol Campus accessibility survey can be found in the comments of this post.

Thursday, May 15, 2025, help us celebrate the 14th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities/impairments.

05/20/2026

We are overJOYed to introduce our brand new READ bookmark, featuring Justice Angelis! Pick one up during your next visit to the Main Reading Room.

Many thanks to our resident designer and photographer Alyssa for another wonderful design.

Happy READing!

[Video description]: A "coming soon" sign is removed and replaced with a stack of bookmarks.]

05/19/2026

Quick reminder that the law library is OPEN during construction! The sprinkler repair only impacts the north stacks and mezzanine areas of the library. The main reading room area is open and waiting for you to visit. Can't make it to Olympia? Email or call us for reference assistance at [email protected] or 360-357-2136.

[Image: A megaphone on a construction-themed background reminds that the law library is open during construction.]

05/18/2026

LEGAL AID ORG SPOTLIGHT: Pierce and King County Legal Aid Pop-Ups
We are often asked where to go for civil legal aid. County Bar Associations are a great place to find out about legal clinics in your area. Today we spotlight the Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers. Check below for clinic information in Pierce and King Co.

We've got some good choices for you May 18-22 if you're looking for free walk-in legal help in your neighborhood! If your neighborhood is South King County, you can find us in Auburn on Tuesday and Kent on Thursday. Pierce County spots will include Gig Harbor, Puyallup, University Place and Tacoma, and if you're a veteran come down to the VA at American Lake; we'll be in Building 9 from 1-4 p.m., where we'll be appearing alongside some great VA resources.

Tacoma Public Library King County Library System

05/14/2026

Family Law Resource: If you're looking for help with filling out or understanding the forms required for your family law case, our colleagues at the King County Law Library can help. They have partnered with local attorneys and their county bar association to conduct drafting labs. More information can be found on their website: https://kcll.org/event/family-forms-drafting-lab-morning-32/

The lab requires you to bring your own forms, and the State Law Library can help you with that! Please contact us at the reference desk ([email protected]) or check out the following websites:
https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/
https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/en/topics/family

{Image: A silhouette of a group of adults and children resembling a family stand on a grassy hill at twilight.]

05/13/2026

The WA Supreme Court starts a new term tomorrow, and we want to remind everyone that the law library opens at 8:00 am on oral argument days. If you need a few minutes to relax before going into the courtroom, or if you need to do some final research, stop by and see us in the Main Reading Room. To view the full Supreme Court calendar, click here: https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/supreme/calendar/

[Image: A vintage alarm clock reading 8:00, with a list of dates when the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments. The headline indicates that the law library opens early on oral argument days.]

05/12/2026

The Washington Supreme Court will host a memorial service on May 13 at the Temple of Justice in Olympia honoring the lives and service of retired Justices Charles K. Wiggins, Richard P. Guy, and Carolyn R. Dimmick.

The special session begins at 10 a.m. and will be live-streamed by TVW -- Washington Public Affairs Network.

Justice Carolyn R. Dimmick made history as the first woman to serve on the
Washington Supreme Court. Justice Richard P. Guy championed access to justice and court improvements statewide. Justice Charles K. Wiggins was widely respected for his appellate work, judicial service, and commitment to civic engagement.

Read the full press release and memorial details here: https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.pressdetail&newsid=54977