History of the Bench

A discussion of the men and women who have served as judicial officers in Superior Court of Benton and Franklin Counties would not be complete without an understanding of the history of Benton and Franklin Counties and the judicial district.  Washington became a state on November 11, 1889.

Franklin County (along with Adams County) was established on November 28, 1883 out of Whitman County.  It was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.  Originally, the county seat was the town of Ainsworth, a small construction town at the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers.  When the Great Northern Railroad bridge over the Snake River near Ainsworth was completed in 1884, the town quickly declined.  Work soon began on the first railroad bridge over the Columbia River at Pasco.  Ainsworth was formally vacated as a townsite in 1889.

Pasco became the county seat in 1885.  The first courthouse and jail were relocated from Ainsworth to Pasco.  A second courthouse was constructed in 1889.  It was located on Lewis Street, near the railroad depot. In 1913 a third courthouse was completed.  Designed by C. Lewis Wilson, it is considered a superbly styled example of courthouse architecture. It was entered on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1978.  

Benton County did not exist at the time of statehood.  It was established on March 8, 1905 out of eastern portions of Yakima and Klickitat Counties.  It was named for Thomas Hart Benton, lawyer, newspaper editor, and Missouri congressman who brawled with Andrew Jackson, injuring the latter.  The county seat is Prosser.

Judicial District.  At the time of statehood, Franklin County was in a judicial district that included Walla Walla and Franklin Counties.  In 1897, Franklin County became part of the judicial district of Yakima, Kittitas and Franklin Counties.  When Benton County was established in 1905, it joined the judicial district that included Yakima, Franklin, Kittitas and Benton Counties.

On March 6, 1907 Benton, Franklin and Adams Counties were formed into a new judicial district. The district remained unchanged until 1951 when Benton and Franklin Counties judicial district was formed.  It so remains.

Families are encouraged to provide additional biographical information and photographs. Submissions may be sent to tiffany.runge@co.benton.wa.us