The Washington State Law Library was originally a part of the Washington State Library. The State Law Library has occupied the Main Reading Room in the Temple of Justice since the building was opened in 1913. In 1959, the Washington State Law Library was made a part of the Supreme Court. It serves employees of all three branches of state government and provides some services to local governments. It is also open to the public. The collection is one of the largest legal collections in the Far West. It is one of the few law libraries in the Pacific Northwest to have primary materials from all 50 states, including published official reports and statutes. About 1931, the Washington State Law Library began collecting portraits of former Judges of the Supreme Court to hang in the State Law Library. The portraits included former Territorial Supreme Court Judges. The portraits are described as sepia portraits that were glossy but not ferrotype. The portraits are 12" x 16 3/8" in size. With the completion of the renovation of the Temple of Justice in 1989, the State Law Library continues to occupy the Main Reading Room and the lower floor of the building.
From the description of Mark H. Wight's collection of correspondence on Washington State Supreme Court Judges' portraits, 1933-1958. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 190792110
