COVID-19 Impacts to King County District Court
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*** NOTICE OF EMERGENCY CHANGES TO COURT OPERATIONS***
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In response to the public health emergency posed by the spread of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19, King County District Court (KCDC) has made significant modifications to court operations.
Courthouses Open for Customer Service
Clerks’ offices at the following KCDC locations are open for customer service Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a lunch hour closure from noon to 1:00 p.m.:
- Auburn Courthouse
- Bellevue Courthouse
- Burien Courthouse
- Issaquah Courthouse
- Maleng Regional Justice Center (Kent)
- Redmond Courthouse
- Seattle (downtown King County Courthouse)
- Shoreline Courthouse
The King County District Court phone line (206) 205-9200 remains open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Anti-Harassment and Stalking Orders
You may apply online for an Anti-Harassment Order or Anti-Stalking Order.
Hearing Dates
Please carefully check your court notice to confirm the scheduled hearing location. You also may reconfirm the date and location before coming to court, either by:- Calling (206) 205-9200
- Checking the District Court Calendars page
Forms
- Case Setting Waiver
- Order on Pre-Trial Conference
- Order on Pre-Trial Conference [MRJC Version]
- Statement of Defendant's Rights - Arraignment
Masks and social distancing required
All persons shall wear masks or other appropriate facial covering of the mouth and nose, regardless of vaccination status, when entering and remaining in any King County District Court location unless they have a documented precluding health condition or disability, are a child three years of age or younger, or are allowed to temporarily remove the facial covering at the direction of the courtroom judge when necessary to facilitate effective communication.
All persons shall strictly adhere to all directions and markings to ensure social distancing. The number of persons allowed into a courtroom at any one time shall be limited.
Persons who are ill, or who have recently been exposed, or who reside with persons who are ill, must remain home. If signs of illness are detected, you may be refused entry or be asked to leave.
Emergency Orders
Changes to KCDC operations are made pursuant to Washington State Supreme Court Order and the following orders of the King County District Court chief presiding judge:- Emergency Administrative Order No. 12-2021, issued July 1, 2021
- Emergency Administrative Order No 11-2021, issued January 26, 2021
- Emergency Administrative Order No, 10-2021 issued January 6, 2021
- Emergency Administrative Order No, 9-2020, issued November 23, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No, 8-2020, issued July 13, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No. 7-2020, issued May 31, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No. 6-2020, issued May 4, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No. 5-2020, issued April 16, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No. 4-2020, issued March 20, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No. 3-2020, issued March 19, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No. 2-2020, issued March 16, 2020
Click below for information on specific topics
The emergency orders apply to the following King County District Court (KCDC) locations:
- KCDC – Auburn – 340 E. Main St., Suite 101
- KCDC – Bellevue – 1309 114th Ave SE, Suite 100
- KCDC – Burien – 601 SW 149th St
- KCDC – Issaquah – 5415 220th Ave SE
- KCDC – Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent – 401 4th Ave. N
- KCDC – Redmond – 8601 160th Ave NE
- KCDC – Seattle – Room E-327 and 3rd floor district courtrooms located on the East wing of the King County Courthouse in Seattle
- KCDC – Shoreline – 18050 Meridian Avenue N
- KCDC – Vashon – 10011 SW Bank Road
- KCDC – Office of the Presiding Judge – Room 1034 of the King County Courthouse in Seattle
The orders also apply to all cases filed into King County District Court by the following cities: Auburn, Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Burien, Carnation, Covington, Duvall, Kenmore, Redmond, Sammamish, Shoreline, Skykomish and Vashon Island.
If you receive a summons for jury service from King County District Court, be sure to: 1) respond as directed in the materials you received; and 2) Reconfirm with the court before coming into the courthouse. For questions regarding jury service at King County District Court, please call our Jury Coordinator Line at (206) 477-1730.
New Small Claims lawsuits may be filed; however, hearing dates may be delayed due to courtroom capacity and location limitations. Small Claims trials and pretrial hearings shall be conducted via video or telephone, unless impracticable to do so. Parties wishing to appear in person must receive permission of the judge prior to the scheduled hearing date.
King County District Court will continue its After Hours Search Warrant procedures.
Law enforcement may call the court at (206) 205-9200, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., for electronic judicial review of search warrants. Law Enforcement should continue to file search warrant returns via email at KCDCSearchWarrants@kingcountv.gov.
Probation intake appointments shall be conducted in person.
Probation check in appointments may be scheduled in person, by video, or by telephone until July 31, 2021. Effective August 1 , 2021 , probation appointments will transition to in-person appointments unless otherwise authorized by the judge. Appointments may continue to be scheduled remotely until the new in-person schedule is available.
Probationers may continue to remotely attend self-help groups, certified treatment classes, including Alcohol Drug Information School (ADIS), and King County approved DUI victim panels as approved by the probation officer or supervising judge.
Probation personnel may reschedule any appointment if someone appears to be ill. Probation officers may also refuse to see any person who does not comply with the court's safety protocols and shall report the defendant to the supervising judge.
Interpreters will continue to be scheduled remotely except for those hearing types where remote appearances are not permitted (See Emergency Administrative Order No. 12-2021, Paragraph 13). Judges may request an interpreter appear in person for any hearing type, if necessary, to facilitate full communication and court efficiency.
Processing of passport applications at all King County District Court locations is suspended until further order of the court. For assistance with passport applications, please call the Seattle Passport Office at (877) 487-2778 or visit travel.state.gov for more information.