Deborah Stevens sworn in as chief justice of Washington Supreme Court

Deborah Stevens was sworn in as chief justice of the Washington State Supreme Court at a public ceremony in Olympia.

Associate Chief Justice Charles Johnson administered the oath as Stevens repeated her pledge to support the U.S. Constitution and the Washington State Constitution and to faithfully discharge the duties of chief justice. Seth Dawson, a former law clerk, presented Stevens and praised her “curiosity, humility, rigor and kindness.”

The ceremony, attended by elected officials, judges and members of the bar, provided a platform for Stevens to outline priorities. "Ceremony provides an important opportunity for reflection, renewed commitment, and of course, just a celebration," Chief Justice Deborah Stevens said, thanking family, clerks and court staff. She emphasized access to justice, court diversity, and the need for civic support for an independent judiciary.

Stevens noted the court’s recent work to keep courthouses open and to bring in health experts and administrative support during challenging periods. She highlighted the court’s diversity, saying the nine-member court now reflects a wider range of lived experiences and that those differences strengthen deliberations.

The oath ceremony included formal recognition of the audience and staff who make the court function; Stevens thanked the Supreme Court Administrator and clerk’s office by name. The event concluded with an invitation to a reception in the Chief Justice Reception Room.

The swearing-in follows the court’s internal election and the scheduled start of Stevens’s term as chief justice; no formal vote or policy action was taken during the ceremony.