The Temple of Justice Trivia and FAQs |
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Q: How many Justices have there been?
A: 96
Q: Who was the longest serving Chief Justice?
A: Gerry Alexander (1995-2011, Chief Justice 2001-2010)
Q: Which Chief Justice served the shortest Term?
A: Samuel M. Driver (1940-1942, 1945-1946, Chief Justice1945-1946). Justice Driver took leave during WWII to enter the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Department.
Q: Who was the longest serving Justice?
A: Mark A. Fullerton (1899-1931)
Q: Which Justice served the shortest Term?
A: Roselle Pekelis (1995-1996)
Q: Have Justices always been elected?
A: Yes. Article IV section 3 of the Washington State Constitution requires that "judges of the supreme court shall be elected."
Q: Has anyone ever served as both a Supreme Court Justice and another statewide elected position (i.e. Governor, Attorney General)?
A: No, though a number of justices have served in the Legislature.
Q: Has any Justice died in office?
A: Yes. Justices Dunbar, Fullerton, Mount, Crow, Morris, Main, Bridges, French, Geraghty, Schwellenbach, Olson and Foster
Q: Has the Supreme Court always convened in Olympia?
A: Yes.
Q: Who was the youngest Justice?
A: Elmon Scott (1889-1899) had just turned 36 when he began serving on the Supreme Court.
Q: Who was the oldest Justice?
A: John F. Main (1912-1942) was 78 years old when he died while in office. In 1952 voters adopted amendment 25, adding Art. IV section 3(a) to the Washington State Constitution, mandating judicial retirement at age 75. Since then, a number of justices have retired from office at 75.
Q: Who was the first native Washingtonian Justice?
A: Kenneth Mackintosh (1918-1928) was born in Seattle on October 25, 1875.
Q: Have any Justices been born in another country?
A: Yes. Merritt J. Gordon (1895-1900) was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec and James M. Geraghty (1933-1940) was born in County Mayo, Ireland.
Q: Who was the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice?
A: Charles Horowitz (1975-1980)
Q: Who was the first African American Supreme Court Justice?
A: Charles Z. Smith (1988-2003)
Q: Who was the first Latino Supreme Court Justice?
A: Charles Z. Smith (1988-2003) whose father was Cuban.
Q: Who was the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice?
A: Carolyn R. Dimmick (1981-1985)
Q: Have any Supreme Court Justices had the same name?
A: Yes. Justices Charles W. Johnson (1991 - present) and James M. Johnson (2005 - present)
Q: Have any Supreme Court Justices served as law clerks?
A: Yes.
Q: Why do Justices wear black robes?
A: RCW 2.04.110 states "Each of the justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, and the judges of the superior courts shall in open court during the presentation of causes, before them, appear in and wear gowns, made of black silk, of the usual style of judicial gowns." This law was originally passed in 1909.
Q: What does the Reporter of Decisions do?
A: The Reporter of Decisions is a constitutional officer of the Washington State Supreme Court responsible for the accurate and timely editing and publishing of appellate court opinions in both hard copy and on the Internet.
Q: How many opinions does the Supreme Court issue each year?
A: The number varies from year to year. In the last ten years, the court has decided an average of 125 cases per year. During the same time period, the court averaged 205 opinions filed per year (including majority, concurring and dissenting opinions.)
Q: Is it o.k. for the public to watch oral arguments in the courtroom?
A: Yes, oral arguments (where parties make their argument in person before the court) are open to the public. They are also broadcast on TVW, Washington's public affairs network.
Q: What other agencies have used the building?
A: Attorney General's Office, State Library, Board for Volunteer Firefighters & Reserve Officers
Q: What is the oldest book in the Law Library?
A: The newe greate abredgement brefly conteynynge, all thactes and statues of this realme of England : untyll the xxxv. yere of the reigne of oure late noble Kynge of moste worthye and famous memorye Henry the viii. (whose soule God pardone). Published by Thomas gaultier, 1551.
Q: How many books are in the law library?
A: Over 300,000 volumes
Q: Does the Law Library give tours?
A: Yes. Please contact the reference desk at (360) 357-2136 or library.requests@courts.wa.gov to schedule a tour.
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