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
If you need to apply for an Anti-Harassment Order or Stalking Order you may apply online
Hearing Dates – Please Double-check with the Court
If you received any type of hearing notice prior to May 15, 2020, from King County District Court, please reconfirm the date and location before coming to court, either by:- Calling (206) 205-9200 or
- 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 must wear masks or other appropriate facial covering of the mouth and nose when entering or remaining in a King County District Court location unless they have a precluding condition in accordance with the public health guidelines. All persons shall strictly adhere to all directions and markings to ensure social distancing.
Please do not come into any King County District Court courthouse if you are sick or experiencing flu-like symptoms such as a cough, fever, or other respiratory problem.
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, 9-2020, issued November 23, 2020
- Emergency Administrative Order No, 8-2020, As Amended, 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 the following 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. All parties are required to participate in mediation prior to the trial date unless waived by a judge. Mediation may be conducted by telephone or video through the Dispute Resolution Center until public health conditions allow for the resumption of courthouse mediation. 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 appointments will be conducted by telephone or video, unless otherwise directed by the supervising probation officer. Effective August 3, 2020, initial intake appointments or pre-sentence interviews may be conducted in person at an available location. Defendants may receive notice of their probation appointment via mail, email, or phone. Defendants should continue to comply with all conditions of sentence unless it is impossible to do so due to circumstances beyond the control of the defendant. Probationers may attend on-line 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 until further Order of the Court.
Interpreters scheduled for a hearing or authorized for a King County Office of Public Defense Interview, except for sign language interpreters, shall appear by telephone or video unless authorized to appear in person by a judge in writing. Interpreters should not appear in person unless a judge has determined that no other reasonable alternative is available to prevent material prejudice to a party. If a scheduled assignment is changed from a remote appearance to an in-person appearance after a job is accepted, the Interpreter Coordinator shall immediately notify the assigned interpreter to allow the interpreter an opportunity to decline the job. This provision remains in effect until further Order of the Court.
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.