The King County Council voted unanimously (9-0) today to restore funding to the King County Law Library for operation of the sole branch of the library located at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.  The Law Library received a 50% cut in funding for 2009 and now this funding is restored in the 2010 Budget year.

The commitment of the Council to this issue is clear through the language in the Budget Ordinance:

“Superior court and Judicial Administration: This budget allocates funding from the MIDD sales tax to sustain vital services in the superior court.  This budget allows for the continued operation of the second King County Law Library at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, as law libraries are vital services for citizens without attorneys, known as pro se defendants, and their families.” 

Thanks go out to everyone who spoke up on our behalf at public hearings or wrote e-mails and letters to their Councilmembers.   We could not have done it without your support!  As our KCLL Board of Trustees President, Judge Yu stated: “We firmly believe that as long as there are court hearings being held in this courthouse, there needs to be a law library.” 

We received critical support from the Washington State Bar Association, K ing County Bar Association, Minority Bar Associations and many members of the public and legal community.  

One of our Pro Se patrons testified at the Public Hearing in Kent and I believe she said it best: “The Library is not a luxury but a necessity of life.  It is a place to obtain information and as Thomas Jefferson said ‘Information is the currency of democracy.’”  

2010  Budget Ordinance for King County