SCR 8402
In CommitteeSenate
Joint session/state of jud.
Convening a joint session for the purpose of receiving the State of the Judiciary message.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This resolution schedules a joint meeting of the Washington State Legislature to hear the Chief Justice’s annual State of the Judiciary address. It does not create new law or change policy, but formally brings lawmakers together for this ceremonial and informational event.
- Calls for a joint session of the Washington State Legislature (House and Senate) on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 12:15 p.m..
- Requires the session to be held in the Senate Chamber at the State Capitol in Olympia.
- Purpose of the session is to hear the State of the Judiciary message delivered by the Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court.
- This is an annual tradition where the judiciary reports on court operations, challenges, and budget needs.
Who is affected
- Legislators — Members of the Washington State Legislature (senators and representatives) who will attend and participate in the joint session.
- Judicial leadership and staff — The Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court and staff who prepare and deliver the State of the Judiciary message.
- General public and news media — General public and media who may observe or report on the event, which includes the judiciary's annual update on court operations and needs.
Who Is Most Affected
Legislators gain a formal opportunity to observe and engage with the judiciary’s annual assessment of court operations and needs, reinforcing inter-branch dialogue — though participation is ceremonial and imposes no additional duties beyond attendance.
Judicial leadership benefits from a high-profile platform to communicate budget requests, operational challenges, and policy priorities directly to lawmakers — but the resolution itself imposes no new obligations or funding commitments.
The public and media gain transparency and visibility into the judiciary’s functioning through a ceremonial, publicly observable event — though the resolution does not mandate public access or live broadcast, limiting direct civic engagement.