Superior Court's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Washington Dept. of Health announces first death from COVID-19; Gov. Jay Inslee declares state of emergency.

Presiding Judge Jim Rogers sends message to all Superior Court judicial officers and staff about the importance of measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has now claimed the lives of two people in King County.

Meeting scheduled to discuss Court’s strategic plan is repurposed as a meeting to address the court operations in light of the public health emergency.

Inslee expands statewide and bans gatherings of 250 people or more in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.

State Supreme Court authorizes Presiding Judges of Washington courts to adopt, modify and suspend court rules and orders, and to take further action on court operations to address the public health emergency.

Judge Rogers allows Superior Court judicial officers to order telephonic or other remote testimony and arguments in any non-trial hearings in all case types, with the exception or criminal arraignments and bond hearings. (Emergency Order #2)

Juror summons for March 16-April 24 suspended for all case types; all jury trials continued (Emergency Order #3). Judge Rogers requires pretrial civil motions to be done via telephone (Emergency Order 4), authorizes a plan to conduct ex parte business remotely, requires dependency hearings to be conducted remotely with some exceptions, and suspends dependency trials (Emergency Order #5).

Superior Court begins daily COVID-19 morning meeting

Unified Family Court Chief Judge Janet Helson signs order limiting Family Court motions to those that are mission-critical (Emergency Order #6)

Judge Rogers authorizes remote records access and step-down plan for ITA (Involuntary Treatment Act) Court (Emergency Order #7); suspends eviction enforcement for nonpayment of rent indefinitely (Emergency Order #8); stays and suspends hearings, motions, and trials on civil residential eviction cases.

State Supreme Court issues order postponing all out of custody criminal matters already pending and some in custody cases through April 24. Superior Court strikes all civil trials, which are to be re-set until on or after June 8. (Emergency Order #11)

Superior Court announces the release of more than 300 people from King County Jail response to COVID-19; Telephonic interpretation allowed for all case types (Emergency Order #14)

Judge Rogers swears in new Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee from six feet away.

Paula Craig, Judge Sean O’Donnell’s mother-in-law, donates reusable cloth masks she sewed for Superior Court staff not working from home.

Superior Court launches new web page for people representing themselves during the pandemic.

Superior Court prepares to resume some operations under new guidelines issued April 29 by state Supreme Court, allowing non-emergency civil hearings in person "with strict observance of social distancing and other public health measures.”

New Superior Court Judge Cindi Port sworn in from 6 feet away.

Superior Court mourns the loss of Julieta Degracia, a courthouse screener from the King County Sherriff’s Office, who succumbed to COVID-19.

University of Washington public health experts tour King County Superior Court courthouses to provide analysis and advice to Superior Court’s public health committee.

Facial coverings required in all King County Superior Court locations (Emergency Order #19).

Washington Supreme Court issues order allowing the resumption of jury trials at courthouses or off-site locations, provided they observe social distancing and adhere to public health guidelines.

Governor Inslee requires facial coverings be worn in public statewide.

Chief Civil Judge Regina Cahan holds training webinar for lawyers on how to conduct remote civil bench bar trials in King County; training is posted online.

Superior Court applies for (receives?) $7 million in CARES Act funding to obtain videoconferencing and other technology needed to hold hearings remotely and to conduct physically distanced jury trials.

Superior Court announces the launch of temporary courthouse at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center. Holding physically distanced civil jury trials in the convention center enables the distancing necessary to safely hold criminal jury trials at KCSC’s other courthouses. At this point, a backlog of more than 800 criminal cases are awaiting trial.

Judge Rogers holds a video meeting with staff and members of the King County bar to present Superior Court’s Public Health Plan, which includes the temporary courthouse, free parking for jurors at all courthouses, the elimination of large groups and a pivot to Zoom jury selection, physical distancing and face coverings required and enforced at all Superior Court locations, Plexiglas barriers, improved ventilation, and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing at all Superior Court locations, and new health screenings and expanded health exemptions for prospective jurors.

King County Superior Court and King County Bar Association present a webcast training on jury selection (voir dire) via Zoom. Video of training is posted online.

King County Superior Court becomes one of the first courts in the nation to hold socially-distanced jury trials. This occurs under new public health protocols at a temporary “pop-up” courthouse at Meydenbauer Center.

Judge Rogers suspends a rule on the geographic area for jury assignment, enabling jurors from all of King County to be summoned to socially-distanced trials at Meydenbauer Center (Emergency Order #20).

King County Superior Court launches Eviction Resolution Program to prevent a wave of evictions cases from being filed once the eviction moratoria are lifted.

Superior Court translates key information on its website into five languages (Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Arabic, and Mandarin) for court users with limited English proficiency, using funding from the CARES Act.

As courts around the nation remain closed, King County Superior Court completes its 70th physically distanced jury trial at Meydenbauer Center.

Judge Rogers suspends all in-person jury trials in response to spike in COVID-19 infections. Beginning Dec. 9 through January 11, 2021, Superior Court to review public health data every two weeks in order to determine whether in-person jury trials can be resumed. (Emergency Order #22)

Through the use of video technology, Superior Court continues to hold trials in civil, family law, involuntary treatment and dependency, all without juries. Superior Court also holds remote civil jury trials, where the jurors, witnesses and parties all remain at office or home and appear on video.

XX First Remote Criminal Trial held

The King County Council approves $10.8 million in funding for King County Superior Court to hire the temporary judicial officers, bailiffs, courtroom, and interpreter staff needed to get through the backlog of criminal cases that has accrued during the pandemic.

King County Superior Court requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, effective December 6, 2021.