Foundation for Washington State Courts

The purchase of durable, easy-to-access wheelchairs for each of the eight courthouse locations.

“Accessibility within courthouse spaces is not only a legal requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Washington’s General Rule 33 (GR 33)—it’s a fundamental commitment to equity and inclusion. Many individuals who visit our courthouse locations experience limited mobility and may not have access to a wheelchair to navigate the space safely and comfortably.

Thanks to the recent grant funding you provided, we are proud to announce the purchase of durable, easy-to-access wheelchairs for each of our eight courthouse locations. This investment ensures that all individuals, regardless of physical ability, can meaningfully participate in the legal process.

Everyone deserves equal access to justice. The addition of these essential resources brings us one step closer to making that a reality.

Thank you for financial support to make this possible!” 

– Patrick Wells, ADA Coordinator for King County District Court

Security pistol locker and gun safe purchased and installed at the courthouse.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in applying for funding through your Foundation to support courts and security projects. We have been working on implementing a secure, single point of entry for the Clallam County Courthouse with a goal of having this project finalized by the end of 2025. With the help of your Foundation, we were able to purchase and install a security pistol locker and gun safe as part of this project.

Lacey Halberg, Superior Court Administrator

The grant funds were used to add new cameras in the public stairwells and upgrade 19 outdated cameras to remove any blind spots and provide a higher quality video feed.

First Floor East Public Hallway, Spokane Courthouse – before and after security camera upgrade.

June 2023

Computer software to assist in remote hearings.

July 2023

Shoreline security camera project.

With FWSC funding, the Columbia County Superior Court was able to purchase a new security walk-thru metal detector, and a set of weapon lockers.

With FWSC funding, the King County District Court was able to purchase a new printer/copier.

Public defenders, Tim Goss and Laura Munro, look very happy to be using the new machine.

With FWSC grant funding, the Yakima County Superior Court was able to install badge readers at each door leading to judicial chambers. The Court thanks the FWSC for their support in making this improvement that contributes to the safety and security of their court staff and jurors.

With FWSC funding, Skamania County Superior Court was able to install key card locks. Skamania County Superior Court Administrator Pam Bell sent a message of gratitude, saying “Thank you, we truly appreciate the award the Foundation has given us. Inmates are brought directly past our doors on the way to the courtroom and this is going to greatly improve our safety. Please express our thanks to the board as well.”

With FWSC grant funding, the Pacific County Superior Court was able to install keycard locks on all staff entrances to the courtroom and court offices. The Court thanks the FWSC for their support in making these small improvements that greatly improve safety and security for the court staff and the public.

With the Foundation’s assistance, Pacific County has been able to purchase and install floor lockdown devices for the doors in most of the Courthouse offices. Security for the Courts is critically underfunded, especially for Courts located in rural counties. Pacific County Courthouse is a national historic building; of course when it was constructed, courthouse security was not the issue it is today. When the building was first occupied, all county services were located in the building, including the Sheriff’s Office and Jail – times have sure changed. The security issues the Courts face today, where inconceivable 100 years ago; funding and implementing security improvements in such a historic building is difficult. With the Foundations grant, Pacific County has been able to take a step towards providing a secure and safe environment for the public and staff.