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Washington Supreme Court, Bar Leaders Urge Lawyers to Bring Civics to Classrooms for Law Day 2026
Summary
At a Law Day event in Olympia, the Washington State Supreme Court, Washington State Bar Association and state treasurer urged attorneys to pledge to visit K–12 classrooms around Constitution Day and teach civic values; the event included classroom teaching examples and an online pledge form.
The Washington State Supreme Court and leaders of the legal community called on attorneys Friday to bring civics education into K–12 classrooms as part of Law Day 2026, asking legal professionals statewide to take a pledge to visit schools around Constitution Day and teach students about the rule of law.
Francis Adewale, president of the Washington State Bar Association, opened the event in the Temple of Justice in Olympia with a personal account of growing up in Nigeria and why the rule of law matters. “I will not be here today as a lawyer if it were not for adults in my life, educating me from an early age about the value of the rule of law,” Adewale said, urging lawyers to “show up and participate” in classrooms.
Chief Justice Deborah Stevens led attendees through a formal pledge for legal professionals that reaffirms responsibilities assumed upon admission to the bar and commits signees to visit a Washington K–12 classroom on or around Constitution Day, Sept. 17, 2026. “I, as a legal professional in Washington state, reaffirm the responsibilities I assumed upon admission to the bar,” Stevens said as the audience repeated the pledge.
Marie Doctor, introduced as a long-time classroom volunteer and current president of the Thurston County Bar, described practical classroom exercises used to teach legal concepts, including a recurring multi-day exercise titled “No Vehicles in the Park.” She also referenced the federal Law Day statute, noting that “you can find Law Day at 36 U.S.C. §113,” and said students respond enthusiastically to basic lessons about the branches of government and the symbols of justice.
State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti told students and lawyers that civic education is a duty of the profession. “Law Day is a great opportunity to remind all attorneys of the duty that they have to the profession and to the rule of law,” he said, and urged attorneys to use small acts—like visiting a classroom—to help preserve democratic institutions.
Organizers said the pledge is available online for those watching remotely, and staff will follow up to coordinate classroom visits. Chief Justice Stevens directed viewers to the Washington State Bar Association website for the pledge form and related resources. The session concluded with students and justices assembling for a group photograph at the bench.
Why it matters: Event leaders framed the outreach as part of a statewide push to improve civic literacy among young people and to mark the nation’s constitutional traditions ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Speakers tied classroom visits to long-term civic health, arguing that direct engagement by legal professionals helps students understand courts, rights and civic duties.
What organizers asked for next: Legal professionals were asked to take the Law Day pledge online, plan at least one school visit on or near Sept. 17, 2026, and to coordinate with local schools and court outreach staff for follow-up. No formal votes, motions or policy changes were proposed at the event.
