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Family law and the beginning of Unified Family Court

The development of the Unified Family Court (UFC) in King County shows a collaborative, phased approach to reforming family justice. This landmark effort streamlined and humanized the judicial process for families navigating complex legal issues.

Planning and areas of focus

Judge Bobbe J. Bridge speaking at a podium.

The initiative began in 1993 with the formation of a 130-member Bench-Bar Task Force co-led by Judge Bobbe J. Bridge and attorney Lawrence Besk. This group undertook a 3-phase planning process, identifying 7 key areas of focus: 

  • Creating a pro se resource center
  • Expanding access to legal services
  • Establishing a drop-in childcare center
  • Developing a case management system
  • Training judicial staff
  • Improving information coordination
  • Institutionalizing alternative dispute resolution

These priorities laid the foundation for a more accessible and responsive family court system.

Pilot program at the Regional Justice Center

By 1996, the vision began to materialize with the approval of a budget proposal to launch a UFC pilot program at the Regional Justice Center (RJC) in Kent. The pilot included:

  • Unified case management
  • A Family Law Information Center staffed by facilitators to assist unrepresented litigants
  • A childcare center
  • A juvenile offender calendar for youth and families residing in the southern part of the county. 

A Training Oversight Committee and a Volunteer Settlement Conference Program, were also implemented, but did not need new funding.

In July 1997, the UFC began accepting cases at the RJC under Judge Marsha Pechman and Commissioner Stephen Gaddis. Initially, Judge Pechman handled a mixed caseload, but soon transitioned to managing all dissolutions involving children. This shift was formally approved by the King County Superior Court's Executive Committee in 1998.

Program expansion - 1998 and 1999

In May 1998, the Executive Committee approved a structure assigning cases based on their nature (dependency, Becca Bill, or Title 26) to specialized commissioners.

By September, both the Family Law Information Center and the childcare center were operational.

In October, the UFC grew to include 2 full-time judges, Judges George T. Mattson and Dale B. Ramerman, handling a broad range of family-related cases.

A UFC Case Manager position was created to assist in triaging these cases deemed to be “high conflict” or particularly complex.  The Case Manager served as a principal liaison with the parties to assist in coordinating the cases and ensuring a clearly-structured case management track. 

In 1999, the UFC program was designated a pilot project under RCW 26.12.802, receiving nearly $150,000 in grant funding through 2002. These funds supported additional staffing, equipment, and training. However, the Juvenile Offender calendar was discontinued in March 1999 due to logistical and cost issues.

Referral criteria

For referral to the early iteration of the UFC program, cases needed to have more than 1 of the listed criteria: 

  • Allegations of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect of children
  • Allegations of chronic mental health problems
  • Previous termination of parental rights
  • Failure to address court-ordered evaluations or treatment
  • Early or multiple filings for modification of parenting plans or other custody or visitation orders
  • Multiple pending cases involving the family
  • Multiple current or past actions involving domestic violence or sexual assault
  • A case involving pro se parties and case issues that would benefit or be expedited by additional case monitoring or tracking
  • Other similar basis as recognized by a judge or commissioner referring the case for UFC consideration

Program expansion (2001 to 2003)

By 2001, the UFC had matured into a robust program. On October 4, the Executive Committee recommended expanding the UFC into the Seattle Courthouse under a “minimal expansion” model, provided it remained budget-neutral. The committee also proposed evaluating the feasibility of a dedicated UFC facility and ensuring future planning did not preclude such development.

A participant survey from 2000-2001 and saw overwhelming positive feedback. Stakeholders felt that: 

  • The program simplified the legal system for a family
  • Judicial officers were more informed about the issues of the family
  • Court decisions were viewed as more consistent
  • Participant families we referred for more appropriate services and evaluations than before

From pilot to cornerstone of family justice

A special meeting on November 15, 2001, led to a ballot sent to all Superior Court judges, asking:

  • Whether the UFC should become a permanent program
  • Whether the UFC should expand into Seattle
  • That judges explore the creation of a separate facility (what ultimately became the CCFJC).  

The Seattle Courthouse began accepting UFC cases for management in 2003.

These steps marked the transition of the UFC from a pilot initiative to a cornerstone of family justice in King County.