Washington Court Records

The Washington court structure comprises four main levels, each with its own jurisdiction. These levels are the supreme court, the court of appeals, the superior court, and courts of limited jurisdiction. Together, these courts handle more than 2 million case filings annually, managing a wide range of legal matters, including civil, criminal, family, and traffic-related cases.

The supreme court is the highest court in the state and primarily hears appeals from the court of appeals. It has discretionary jurisdiction and original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as writs and mandamus actions. Next is the court of appeals, which is divided into three divisions located in Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane. This court has mandatory jurisdiction over appeals from superior courts in both civil and criminal cases.

Superior courts exist in each of the state's 39 counties. These courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, including felonies, estate and probate matters, family law cases, and juvenile proceedings. They also handle appeals from district and municipal courts.

The district and municipal courts in Washington are courts of limited jurisdiction. District courts manage misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil cases with claims up to $100,000. On the other hand, municipal courts operate within specific cities and towns, primarily focusing on traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and violations of municipal codes.

What Are the Types of Court Records In Washington?

Court records comprise all documents, data, exhibits, and materials preserved by a court about legal proceedings. This also includes details recorded in a court's case management system that pertain to ongoing or past cases. Common examples of court records in Washington include case indexes, court calendars, dockets, judicial orders, decrees, final judgments, and official summaries of courtroom proceedings. The clerk of each court in the state is the custodian of the records of that court. Hence, requests for the records of a court may be submitted to the clerk of that court.

Specifically, clerks of courts in Washington maintain these records:

• Washington Supreme Court
• Opinions and Rulings: Official decisions on cases reviewed by the Supreme Court.
• Case Dockets: Lists of cases heard, procedural history, and rulings.
• Oral Argument Transcripts: Records of verbal arguments made before the court.
• Orders and Mandates: Final orders issued, including case remand or dismissal.
• Attorney Discipline Records: Disciplinary actions against lawyers.
• Washington Court of Appeals
• Appellate Case Records: Documents from appeals, including petitions and responses.
• Opinions and Rulings: Decisions issued on appealed cases.
• Briefs and Appendices: Written arguments presented by attorneys.
• Orders and Dispositions: Court decisions to uphold, overturn, or modify lower court rulings.
• Washington Superior Courts
• Criminal Case Records: Felony case files, sentencing records, and plea agreements.
• Civil Case Files: Lawsuits, judgments, and case rulings on matters exceeding $100,000.
• Family Law Records: Divorce decrees, child custody, and support agreements.
• Probate and Estate Records: Wills, estate settlements, and guardianship cases.
• Juvenile Court Records: Criminal and dependency cases involving minors.
• Land and Property Dispute Records: Cases related to real estate ownership and disputes.
• Washington District Courts
• Misdemeanor and Gross Misdemeanor Case Records: Records of lesser criminal offenses.
• Civil Case Records: Lawsuits involving claims up to $100,000.
• Traffic Violation Records: Infractions such as speeding and reckless driving.
• Protection Order Records: Domestic violence and anti-harassment restraining orders.
• Small Claims Court Records: Disputes involving claims up to $10,000.
• Washington Municipal Courts
• Misdemeanor and Gross Misdemeanor Case Files: Criminal cases within city limits.
• Traffic Infractions and DUI Records: Citations and court proceedings for violations.
• Parking Violation Records: Citations and fines issued by the municipality.
• Local Ordinance Violation Records: Cases involving violations of city laws.

Are Washington Court Records Public?

Washington court records are generally considered public and accessible to anyone under General Rule 31 of the Washington Court Rules (GR 31). In addition, GR 22 governs access to family law and guardianship case records. Unless a specific rule, law, or order restricts access to a record, GR 31 allows members of the public to inspect or copy paper and electronic copies of Washington court records.

Note that some types of court records are exempt from public access. Such records include adoptions, mental illness commitment records, confidential name changes, juvenile non-offender records, alcohol and drug treatment commitment records, and sealed or expunged court records.

A Washington court may seal part or an entire court record for several reasons, including when there are compelling privacy or safety concerns outweighing the public interest in accessing a court record. Personal identifiers, including Social Security number and driver's license number, may all be sealed from public access.

How Do I Search Washington Court Records?

Washington court records are accessible to the public online and offline. To access court records online, you may use the following options:

• Washington Odyssey Portal: The Odyssey Portal is a web-based application to view superior court records in the state. Currently, it is only used by superior courts in 37 counties. Court records from the Pierce and King County Superior Courts or courts of limited jurisdictions in the state are not available via the Odyssey Portal.
• Washington Court Case Search System: This system is a search resource for cases filed in the appellate, superior, district, and municipal courts in Washington. The results obtained from conducting a search using this system may point the user to the complete or official court record.
• Appellate Court Public Document Portal: This portal provides the public with access to documents for cases with the state supreme court and the court of appeals after January 1, 2020
• JIS-Link: The Washington Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) maintains a statewide case management system known as the Judicial Information System (JIS). Note that the JIS does not provide access to actual court documents. However, users of the JIS may view public record case information, including the index of filed cases and a list of filed documents in each case. Note that there are fees for subscribing to and using JIS-Link.
• Local Court Websites: Many Washington courts have websites that allow users to access court records. You may visit the Washington Court website to access the links to local court websites.

To access Washington court records online, you will need to provide the following details:

• Case number
• Party name
• Filing date
• Court location

How to Retrieve Court Records Offline

You may access Washington court records offline by visiting the office of the clerk of the court where the record was filed. If you only want to view court records, you may use the public access terminal available in many Washington State courthouses. However, if you want certified copies of court records, you may submit an in-person request at the office of the court clerk. You will need to provide the case number or party name and other case-relevant information for the search to be successful.

If you want to view a court record, your request will typically be granted on the same day. However, requests for old records or certified records may take up to two weeks to process. The state allows courts to charge a fee to reproduce the records requests, and the prices charged by Washington courts vary from one jurisdiction to another. Typically, copies of court records are reproduced at between $0.25 and $1 per page, while certification may be charged at between $5 and $10. Payment is usually accepted via cash, credit card, check, or money order.

Can I Seal or Expunge a Washington Court Record?

Washington offers three forms of record relief to persons with criminal records: sealing, expungement, and vacation.

Expungement is available for individuals investigated and charged with a crime but where charges were never filed or the case was dismissed without trial. According to RCW §10.97.060, arrest report information can be expunged from law enforcement records after a two-year waiting period, classified as "non-conviction data." The process involves either writing a letter to the law enforcement agency or obtaining a court order to destroy the records. If a letter is written, the agency may deny the request if the case involves deferred prosecution, the requester has prior felony or gross misdemeanor convictions, or has been arrested or charged with another crime during the intervening period. However, the court's authority to order expungement is not limited by these conditions.

Vacating a conviction allows individuals found guilty of a crime to petition the court to remove the finding of "guilty" from their record after serving their sentence and living without further convictions for a specified period. This remedy is crucial for non-U.S. citizens as criminal records can lead to deportation or prevent citizenship. The criteria for vacating a conviction depend on the offense, with waiting periods ranging from three to ten years for misdemeanors and felonies, respectively. Note that DUI convictions cannot be vacated.

Sealing court records or dockets involves restricting court records to public viewing, making background checks reveal only the subject's name and case number. Sealing is discretionary and assessed based on the Ishikawa Factors, which include the threat to an important interest, objections from court attendees, the necessity of sealing to protect the interest, the balance between the public and the offender's interests, and the specified period for sealing. When clearing a record in Washington, the ideal first step is vacating the conviction, followed by sealing the docket, and finally expunging arrest records after the waiting period.

To apply for the Washington State Patrol (WSP) expungement of non-convictions, follow these steps:

• Get the Petition Form: Obtain the Request for Expungement or Deletion of Non-Conviction Records form from the WSP website.
• Complete the Petition Form: Fill out the form, sign it, and have another person sign and date it as a witness.
• Fingerprinting: Get your fingerprints taken at the WSP office in Olympia or a local law enforcement agency, paying a fee of $5.00 to $15.00.

• Submit Documents: Mail the form and documents to:

  The Washington State Patrol

  Identification and Background Check Section

  P.O. Box 42633

  Olympia, WA 98504-2633

Alternatively, you may deliver the documents in person to 106 11th Avenue SW, Olympia, WA 98501.

Note that there is no fee to apply for expungement of a non-conviction. However, you may need to go to court to update their records.

For vacation of convictions:

• Get the Form: Obtain the appropriate form to vacate a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or certain felonies from the Washington courts website online.
• Submit the Form: Submit the completed form to the clerk in the county where you were charged.
• Make Copies: Make copies of all documents.
• Court Decision: The court may hold a hearing on your petition to vacate or notify you of the judge's decision.

How To Search Federal Court Records in Washington

The Eastern District and the Western District Courts are the two federal courts in the State of Washington. These courts hear matters relating to admiralty law, violations of federal laws, disputes between parties that involve federal statutes or regulations, and bankruptcy.

If you want to access the records of these two federal courts, you may visit the courthouses in person or use the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system.

The Eastern District of Washington has locations at the following addresses:

• Spokane: Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse, 920 West Riverside Avenue
• Yakima: William O. Douglas Federal Building, 25 South 3rd Street
• Richland: U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, 825 Jadwin Avenue

The Eastern District of Washington has courthouses in the following locations:

• Seattle: U.S. Courthouse, 700 Stewart Street
• Tacoma: Tacoma Union Station, 1713 Pacific Avenue

Note that to use the PACER system, you must register for an account on the portal. You may then search for a record using the case number or party name. Note that access to case files and documents costs $0.10 per page with a maximum charge of $3 per document.

How To Get Washington Court Records Online for Free?

You may search Washington court records for free using the Odyssey portal, Washington court case search system, appellate court public document portal, or local court websites. Note that the Odyssey portal only provides access to court records of superior courts, except those in King and Pierce Counties.

In addition to the official Washington court websites, you may also find court records on third-party databases. One such reliable online repository is peoplerecords.us, which aggregates public records from various sources, making it easier for users to search across multiple jurisdictions.