Courts

Yakima County Superior Court has 8 full time elected Judges as authorized by law. The Court has 3 full-time appointed court commissioners to handle additional workload at multiple court facilities. The Court Administrator’s Office handles judicial scheduling and assignments and the budget matters of the Court. The County Clerk’s Office is separate from Superior Court and handles court fines, and restitution, court records and data dissemination, and provides clerk staff for the Superior Court courtrooms.

 

Whitman County Superior Court will actively manage the business of the court so as to provide the fair, prompt and understandable resolution of legal disputes. The court will provide access to justice for all citizens, and will treat participants professionally, impartially, and with respect.

Washington State district and municipal courts may consider civil and criminal matters related to misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic, non-traffic, and parking infractions, domestic violence protection orders, civil actions of $75,000 or less, and small claims up to $5,000.

This office was created in 1982 by constitutional mandate, to provide indigent legal defense for felony, misdemeanor and probation violation charges against adults and juveniles in Whatcom County Superior and District courts, and involuntary mental and alcohol commitments.

Washington State district and municipal courts may consider civil and criminal matters related to misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic, non-traffic, and parking infractions, domestic violence protection orders, civil actions of $75,000 or less, and small claims up to $5,000.

 Washington has 39 Superior Courts, one in each of Washington's 39 counties. Superior Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in Washington. A Superior Court may consider all civil and criminal matters occurring within a county's boundary. The Superior Court also has exclusive jurisdiction over civil matters in which the amount in controversy is more than $75,000, felony cases, estate and probate matters, family law cases (including divorces and child custody hearings), and juvenile proceedings. They act as a court of appeal for cases from the District and Municipal Courts.  

The Prosecuting Attorney's Office oversees duties and functions including adult felony prosecution, adult misdemeanors (non-city cases), juvenile prosecutions, and victim/witness assistance program.

Thurston County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction which hears the following case types: criminal misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases, traffic and non traffic infractions, civil cases for damages of $75,000.00 or less, anti-harassment protection orders, and "Small claims" civil cases of $5,000.00 or less.

The Office of Assigned Counsel gives legal representation to people who can't afford a lawyer, in criminal and dependency cases in Thurston County District Court and Superior Court.