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Thurston County proclaims commitment to a new courthouse, stakeholders urge swift planning
Summary
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners adopted a proclamation committing the county to pursue a long-term courthouse solution. Judges, bar leaders and county staff pressed for timely, collaborative planning and attention to accessibility, security and funding options.
Thurston County commissioners on Jan. 21 adopted a proclamation declaring a commitment to pursue a long-term courthouse solution and to rebuild community trust while continuing short-term repairs to existing facilities.
The proclamation — titled “Thurston County’s commitment to building a courthouse and community trust” — says the existing courthouse complex is “decades beyond its projected usefulness” and that a renovation of the current facilities would not address “serious security, accessibility, and space needs.” The board’s statement says the county will pursue competitive options that could include purchasing or building a new facility and will seek to involve stakeholders and tribal partners.
Why it matters: Judges, public defenders, prosecutors and the Thurston County Bar said the current courthouse hampers modern court operations, fails safety and accessibility standards, and strains staff who must patch technology and space shortfalls. Court stakeholders told commissioners that delays increase costs and risk service interruptions.
Superior Court Judge George Buckley, who urged the board to act, said: “Every day we wait, it becomes more expensive.” He told commissioners the 1978 building was not designed for modern court use and that holding off raises the risk of greater failures and temporary relocations.
Judge Skinner emphasized frequent operational disruptions, including courtroom audio and recording failures that required manual work-arounds. “We make it work,” Skinner said of court staff and reporters, “but the building was not designed to be used the way that we use it today.”
Marie Dockter, president‑elect of the Thurston County Bar, told commissioners the bar strongly supports a new courthouse and urged the county to include sustainability, accessibility and community education as planning proceeds. “Accessibility is a huge issue,” she said, citing pro se litigants who struggle to use the current building.
County staff and commissioners stressed the proclamation does not by itself direct staff to launch any specific procurement or construction action. Staff said the proclamation is intended to reflect the board’s direction and to permit the county to solicit options through a competitive process, including exploring buy/lease/lease‑to‑own or new construction within Olympia city limits.
Commissioners and speakers said they want a process that includes judges, court administrators, tribal partners and the public. Staff told the board the next steps will be a collaborative, multi‑phase planning process that will examine funding options and site considerations; no final funding commitment was made at the meeting.
The board read the proclamation into the record and incorporated stakeholder remarks into the meeting minutes. Commissioners thanked stakeholders, staff and judges for participating and noted short‑term maintenance work will continue while planning proceeds.
