Western District of Washington Hosts Constitution Day

Consitution Day 2014 Gallery

The Federal Bar Association and the U.S. District Court hosted Constitution Day events in the Tacoma and Seattle Courthouses on September 16 and 17.  The two-hour program is designed for 5th grade classes and includes a courthouse tour, a visit by the U.S. Marshal's Service, and a mock trial conducted by the students.  District Judge Benjamin Settle hosted the event in Tacoma, while Magistrate Judge Theiler had the honors in Seattle.  For more information, contact Lori Landis at lori_landis@wawd.uscourts.gov or 206-370-8483.

Western District of Washington Holds Ceremony to Welcome Youngest U.S. Citizens

Chief Judge Pechman with Lily and Aaron Woods

On June 21, 2013, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, in partnership with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, welcomed five children who became new U.S. citizens. They were introduced by the Kent American Legion Color Guard during the welcoming ceremony. Chief District Judge Marsha J. Pechman, who administered the Oath of Allegiance.

Read more about this event

Seattle Court, Bar Team Up for Career Day

Deputy marshal demonstrates handcuffs

The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and the King County Bar Association teamed up to host a Career Day for high school students who are members of The Future of the Law Institute.  The institute, an affiliate of the King County Bar Foundation, promotes ethnic diversity in the legal profession by encouraging minority and economically disadvantaged high school students to pursue higher education in the law.

Participating in the event held February 13, 2013, at the district court in Seattle were District Judges Richard A. Jones and Ricardo S. Martinez, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Brown and Assistant Federal Defender Corey Endo, along with various court staff and a representative of the U.S. Marshals Service.  Students were able to gain first hand information about the types of careers available in the judiciary.

New Community Outreach Effort in Full Swing in Western Washington



Ninth Circuit Judge Richard Tallman

speaks with teachers

The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, which has courthouses in Seattle and Tacoma, established a community outreach committee in 2011.  The committee has set about establishing collaborative relationships with local bar associations and law schools and retained the services of a noted attorney-educator to help design outreach programs.  The committee also is contributing to the development of the court’s new Internet website, which is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2012.



Teachers chat with District Judge

Robert Lasnik

So far, the committee’s efforts are focused on educating educators about the law and role of the judiciary. The court held a Judicial Institute for High School on June 27-29, 2012, and an iCivics Institute for Middle and Junior High School Teachers on July 18-20, 2012, both at the federal courthouse in Seattle.  Some 60 teachers from the western half of the state participated in the programs.  The court used funds collected from attorney admissions fees to reimburse attendees for lodging and travel expenses.  There was no charge for the programs, and teachers earned continuing education credits.

The Judicial Academy helped teachers to better understand the U.S. Constitution, the federal and state judiciaries, and federal issues including immigration, federal criminal law and civil rights.  The program for middle and junior high school teachers focused on how to make use of the iCivics program started by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, which is available online at http://www.icivics.org/.

The court is planning its first Constitution Day event with programs in Tacoma on September 17, 2012, and Seattle on September 19, 2012.  Both programs will bring fourth- and fifth-grade students to the courthouse for a tour, a mock trial sponsored by the Federal Bar Association, and a visit with a judge.  The committee also has worked with the FBA to establish a Federal Civil Rights Legal Clinic, open one day per week in Seattle.

The committee is being aided by Margaret Fisher, an attorney with over 30 years of full-time experience educating the public in the law.  She is currently a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Seattle University School of Law and works part-time for the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts to develop programs and curricula for the judiciary to educate the public in the law.  She is also the Washington State coordinator for the iCivics program.

For questions the Western District of Washington outreach programs, please contact:

Bill McCool

District Court Executive/Clerk of Court

U.S. District Court

Western District of Washington

(206) 370-8430

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