Find Court Records Instantly! Click Here!

Washington state’s legal system is among the nation’s more easily accessed online. Information is widely available and ranges from outlines and details of the various courts and their duties to complete online access to the state’s laws, the Revised Code of Washington and the Washington Administrative Code. 

Washington Supreme Court 

The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the state’s judiciary. It is composed of nine justices, including a chief justice, presently Gerry L. Alexander, and an associate chief justice, Charles W. Johnson. Justices are elected to the court by the state’s voters and serve six-year terms. They must retire by age 75. 

The court convenes in the loftily named Temple of Justice, part of the state capitol campus in Olympia. 

Like most state supreme courts, the Washington Supreme Court is the top appellate court in the system. Its opinions are published, become the law of the state, and establish precedent for future cases decided in Washington courts. 

The court also has original jurisdiction over petitions filed against state officers, and can review the decisions of lower courts if the money or value of property involved exceeds $200. The minor, $200 limit is even waived when the case involves a question of the legality of a tax, duty, assessment, toll or municipal fine, or the validity of a statue. 

Direct Supreme Court review of a trial court’s decision is permitted if the action involves a state officer, the trial court has ruled a statue or ordinance unconstitutional, conflicting laws or rules are being applied, or the issue is considered one of broad public interest requiring a prompt and final determination. All death penalty cases are reviewed directly by the Supreme Court. In any other case, whether to review decisions made by the Court of Appeals is left entirely to the discretion of the Supreme Court justices themselves. 

Motions to be determined by the court and petitions to have a Court of Appeals decision reviewed are heard by five-member panels of the Supreme Court. A less-than-unanimous vote on such petition requires that the entire court consider the matter. All nine justices hear and dispose of cases argued on the appeal calendar. Each case is decided on the basis of the record, plus written and oral arguments. Exhibits are rarely allowed and no live testimony of witnesses is heard. 

The Washington Supreme Court also is the final rules-making body for all the state’s courts. While local courts can devise their own rules of procedure, such rules must conform to, or at least not conflict with, those already established by the Supreme Court. 

The Supreme Court also has administrative responsibility over the entire state court system, and some supervisory capacity regarding certain activities of the Washington State Bar Association, including attorney disciplinary matters. 

Washington Court of Appeals 

Most cases that are appealed in Washington go to the Court of Appeals.  

The court is a non-discretionary appellate court. That means it must accept all appeals filed with it; the court cannot decide not to hear a case, unlike the Supreme Court, which can reject an appeal.

Once the appealed case reaches the Court of Appeals, judges can decide to reverse the original court’s decision, remand it (i.e., send it back to the lower court to be reconsidered), modify the prior verdict, or affirm the decision made by the lower court.

The Court of Appeals decides each case based on review of the transcript of the records from Superior Court and by considering arguments made by the involved parties. Oral arguments usually are heard, but live testimony by witnesses is uncommon.

There are three Court of Appeals divisions in Washington, with 22 judges serving staggered, six-year terms so that the makeup of the entire court is not overturned in a single election. Judges are elected from geographical regions based on population, with King County (city of Seattle, etc.) represented by six judges and in other cases a single judge to represent up to nine counties.

A processing guide to the Court of Appeals is available online, to help individuals and attorneys understand and follow the right procedures and to give them access to sample forms. Recently filed Court of Appeals opinions also are accessible via the World Wide Web. 

Washington Superior Court

Washington’s superior courts are the courts of general jurisdiction in the state. Superior Court judges have exclusive jurisdiction over felony matters, real property rights, domestic relations, estates, mental illness, juvenile issues and civil cases worth more than $50,000. The Superior Court also can hear appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction.

There are 29 Superior Court judicial districts in the state’s 39 counties. These districts employ about 175 judges. Superior Court judges are elected on a nonpartisan ballot to serve four-year terms.

Superior Court facilities and clerks’ offices for each of the 39 counties can be found listed alphabetically online.

In 2001, Washington voters agreed to allow elected judges from other court divisions to serve if needed as pro tempore judges in Superior Court. A complete list of these “AR 6” judges (so-named because Administrative Rule 6 established the system) is available online.

Individuals with a date in court can usually find their own court date online, as well. 

Washington District Courts 

The District Court system in Washington is a limited-jurisdiction venue. These courts have concurrent jurisdiction with Superior Court venues over misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations and on civil cases worth less than $50,000. the District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over small claims and infractions.

There are 49 district courts in the state’s 39 counties, convening in 61 different locations.

A complete alphabetical list of District Court venues (and Web sites) is available online. 

Washington Municipal Courts 

Municipal courts in Washington are established by city ordinance. Cities that choose not to have a municipal court of their own may contract with the associated District Court to receive legal services. These courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the superior courts over misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations, and have exclusive jurisdiction over “infractions” committed in the state.

There are 127 municipal courts in the state of Washington. Municipal judges are usually appointed by the city, except in the case of full-time judges. They are elected to four-year terms on nonpartisan ballots.

Find the right Municipal Court online with this handy, alphabetical list.

King County District Court

Mason County Superior Court

Pierce County Superior Court

Seattle Municipal Court

Snohomish County Superior Court

Spokane County Superior Court

Thurston County Superior Court

United States District Court - Eastern District of Washington

United States District Court - Western District of Washington

Washington State Courts

Yakima County Courts

"Find Your Court Date" - Use this search to find your district or municipal court date in the Washington State Court.

Washington Case Records - Use this search to find the participants of case with a case number you already have.

Washington eService Center - Question and Answer forum or use the forum to email the Washington Courts to find the answer to your question.

Washington Courts Educational Resources - Various legal educational resources available to download for teachers and citizens.

Washington Appellate & Trial Courts - Directory to all courts in the state as well as the division courts and information regarding the courts.

Washington Court Directory - State directory for the state courts of Washington.

Caseloads of the Courts of Washington - Online presentation of the courts caseloads in the state of Washington including annual and monthly reports.

Washington State Court Opinions - Lists of opinions that have been filed within the last 90 days as well as information for accessing opinions that are more than 90 days old.