Court operations

How is King County doing?

Caseload--the number of cases filed with the court--is one indicator of the scope of services provided by the King County Superior and District Courts. From 2003 to 2008, King County Superior Court received an average of 62,700 new case filings per year. District Court averaged 216,00 new filings per year in the same time period.

What else influences these indicators?

King County courts constitute only one element of the justice system. Multiple actors - law enforcement, prosecution, and defense in the criminal system; and citizen litigants in the civil arena - influence the caseload demands on the courts.

Changes in state and local laws, rules, and regulations also impact what types of cases may be filed, where they may be filed, and how they must be processed by the courts. Overall economic conditions and public access to affordable legal services also impact who appears in court and what types of actions they bring.

What role does King County government play?

Pursuant to the Washington State Constitution and state law, King County operates two separate court systems.

King County Superior Court is the county's court of general jurisdiction; i.e., it can hear any matter arising under state law. In the criminal arena, it handles felony matters arising anywhere in King County. Felony matters are those which are punishable by a year or more in jail. In the civil arena, it handles most disputes involving more than $75,000 and shares jurisdiction with King County District Court for cases involving lesser amounts. Superior Court also handles most family law and juvenile justice matters.

King County District Court is the county's limited jurisdiction court and the largest court of limited jurisdiction in the State, providing services to more than 1.8 million King County residents. Matters filed with the court include small claims, traffic infractions, protection orders, misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases up to $75,000. Criminal and traffic infractions occurring in unincorporated King County or on state roads and highways are filed with district court. The court is also the municipal court for 12 contract cities and has a limited services contract with one city to provide weekend and holiday in custody hearings.

Both courts operate various court-related programs, in addition to hearing cases. These programs include probation services, therapeutic courts, and programs that assist civil litigants with filing or resolving their cases.