Submit a Public Record Request
The Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is committed to openness, transparency, and public access to administrative records as provided by Washington law. OCLA processes requests and provides records in compliance with Supreme Court rule, GR 31.1, which governs public access to administrative records of the judicial branch of government.
How to request records from OCLA
All requests must be submitted in writing to the Public Records Officer. Requests may be submitted in any of the following ways:
Online:
Click on the Request Records button on the upper right.
Mail:
Office of Civil Legal Aid
Attn: Public Records Officer
P.O. Box 41183
Olympia, WA 98504-1183
What to expect from OCLA
The OCLA Public Records Officer will respond within five (5) business days of receiving your request. The response will acknowledge your request with one or more of the following:
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Providing the requested records
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Estimating a later date when some or all of the records will be provided
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Estimating processing fees, if any
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Asking further clarification
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Explaining why some or all of a record is exempt or prohibited from public disclosure
In response to a public records request, OCLA is only able to provide an existing record that is the agency’s possession. OCLA is not able to:
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Release records that are exempt or prohibited from public disclosure
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Create a record that does not already exist
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Perform research or provide legal advice
Exemptions
Certain administrative records are exempt or prohibited from disclosure by GR 31.1 or other court rules, state statutes, federal statues, or case law. For records that are not entirely exempt or prohibited from disclosure, OCLA will release the record with the non-disclosable information redacted. OCLA will provide a written explanation for each redaction.
Appealing a decision
If you disagree with the Public Records Officer’s decision denying disclosure or redacting a record, you may request a review of that decision by submitting a Request for Internal Review.
OCLA Request for Internal Review