New Thurston County Courthouse advocate pleased with change of direction

A longtime advocate for a new Thurston County Courthouse hailed a decision by the Board of County Commissioners to scrap a multi-million dollar proposal to renovate the Courthouse Hill complex.

"This is a new beginning," said Judge Brett Buckley, who has long lobbied for a new courthouse. "We are understanding the importance of this … and every day we wait, it becomes more expensive." 

Buckley is the presiding judge at Thurston County District Court.  

Buckley explained that the current courthouse, built in 1978, was intended to last 35 to 40 years, but it is now well beyond that lifespan.  

"The concept of then spending $50 million to renovate something that we are already well beyond its useful life, I am really pleased that the board decided, you know, that's not appropriate," Buckley said.  

"We need to commit ourselves to what is the best resolution, which is understanding we need to make the commitment to a new courthouse." 

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners took a step toward addressing the long-standing courthouse issues, unanimously approving a proclamation that commits to building a new courthouse and restoring community trust. 

The proclamation, adopted during the board's meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, acknowledges the inadequacies of the current courthouse complex, which has exceeded its “useful life” and fails to meet the county's security, accessibility, and space needs. 

County Manager Leonard Hernandez emphasized the proclamation is not a directive to staff to take immediate action, but rather an acknowledgment of the board's commitment to finding a long-term solution for the county's space needs. 

"We really feel like that is a prudent use of county resources," Hernandez said.

"It also opens the door for us to go out for a competitive process to solicit what's the best configuration for the county space needs, considering the different dynamics of the different offices, departments and the courtroom space that we need specifically for the long term." 

The proclamation also highlights the need for the new courthouse to be "dignified, functional, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective," reflecting the board's goal to build a facility that serves the community's needs while being fiscally responsible. 

"This is not a politically easy decision to make, and I appreciate that, but it is the right decision," Buckley said.