Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens is scheduled to deliver the 2025 State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Washington State Legislature on January 22 at 12:15 p.m. The event will take place in the Senate Chambers and will be broadcast live by TVW, Washington’s Public Affairs Network. A written version of the report is expected to be released next week.
The purpose of the State of the Judiciary address is to update lawmakers on developments, initiatives, and challenges facing Washington’s judicial branch. Lawmakers and judicial leaders collaborate through legislation and funding to support an effective and fair court system.
Stephens was chosen as the state’s 59th Chief Justice by her colleagues in late 2024, with her four-year term beginning this month. In her role, she serves as the court’s main spokesperson, presides over hearings and conferences, and co-chairs the Board for Judicial Administration.
She previously served as Chief Justice from 2019 to 2020 after taking over for Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst following Fairhurst’s retirement. Stephens has been a member of the Supreme Court since January 2008. Before joining the high court, she was a judge on Division Three of the Court of Appeals in Spokane. She is noted as both the first judge from that division and the first woman from Eastern Washington to serve on Washington’s Supreme Court.
Stephens is originally from Spokane. Her background includes practicing law, teaching at Gonzaga University School of Law as an adjunct professor, and appearing before several courts including more than 125 times before Washington’s Supreme Court.
Written reports from previous State of the Judiciary addresses are available on the Washington Courts website, along with further details about state courts.
“January 21, 2025Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens will present the 2025 State of the Judiciary address before a joint session of the Washington State Legislature on Wednesday, January 22nd at 12:15 p.m. in the Washington State Senate Chambers.”
“The address will be televised live by TVW Washington’s Public Affairs Network. A written report will also be released to the public next week.”
“The State of the Judiciary address is meant to provide lawmakers with an overview of the status, progress, key initiatives and significant challenges of Washington’s judicial branch. As members of co-equal branches of government, lawmakers work together with judicial leaders — through legislation and funding — to maintain the fairness and effectiveness of the state judicial system.”
“Stephens was elected to be the state’s 59th Chief Justice by fellow justices in late 2024, beginning a four-year term in January 2025. As Chief Justice, she is the court’s primary spokesperson, presides over Supreme Court hearings and conferences, and co-chairs the state Board for Judicial Administration.”
“Stephens previously served as Chief Justice from 2019-2020, serving out the remainder of Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst’s term when she retired. Fairhurst died of cancer in 2021. Stephens has been a member of the Court since January 2008. She previously served as a judge for Division Three of the Court of Appeals, based in Spokane, and is the first judge from that court and the first woman from Eastern Washington to join the state Supreme Court. A native of Spokane, she practiced law and taught as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law prior to taking the bench. She appeared as counsel over 125 times in the state Supreme Court in addition to appearances in the Idaho Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and as counsel of record in the United States Supreme Court.”
“Previous State of the Judiciary written reports can be found on the Washington Courts website, along with additional information about the state’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and trial courts.”