Local Court Rules

Unless specifically noted in this order, the provisions of the following General Administrative Orders are rescinded effective January 2nd, 2024; 2020-02, 2020-03, 2020-04, 2020-05, 2020-06, 2020-07, 2020-08, 2020-09, 2020-13, 2020-15, 2021-01, 2021-02, 2021-03.

GAO 2021-05: Emergency Court Closure

Effective December 30, 2021
The Seattle Municipal Court was closed to the public, except for the in-custody arraignment calendar in KCJ2, on Thursday, December 30, 2021 due to inclement weather.

GAO 2021-04: Emergency Court Closure

Effective December 28, 2021
The Seattle Municipal Court was closed to the public, except for the in-custody arraignment calendar in KCJ2, on Monday, December 27, 2021 due to inclement weather.

GAO 2021-03: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Operations

GAO 2021-02: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Operations

Effective April 23, 2021
Continues suspension of most in-person appearances for out-of-custody criminal matters until May 21, 2021, requiring remote appearance by phone/video. Jury trials remain suspended through June 15, 2021. Remote appearances required on all contested infraction and impound hearings until May 21, 2021. Non-infraction civil presettlement conferences will continue to be remote until May 21, 2021.

GAO 2021-01: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Operations

Effective February 18, 2021
Continues suspension of most in-person appearances for out-of-custody criminal matters, requiring remote appearance by phone/video. The Court's out-of-custody arraignment Intake calendar for non-DV and non-DUI cases will resume on March 3, 2021, with all hearings conducted remotely.

GAO 2020-15: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Operations

Effective December 15, 2020
Suspends most in-person appearances for out-of-custody criminal matters and contested infraction and impound hearings, requiring remote appearance by phone/video. Out-of-custody competency evaluations will continue in person at the court. All in-custody matters will be scheduled in courtroom 2, King County Jail.

GAO 2020-14: Closure of Probation Cases Open for Record Check Only

Effective December 2, 2020
Probation cases monitored for records check only are limited to DUI related cases with open Ignition Interlock Device (IID) restrictions imposed by the Department of Licensing (DOL).

GAO 2020-13: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Operations

Effective November 23, 2020
All jury trials are suspended until March 3, 2021. Out of custody arraignment appearances set for Intake hearings in Courtroom 302 are suspended until February 3, 2021.

GAO 2020-12: Warrants Eligible For Release On Personal Recognizance

Effective November 30, 2020
All warrants issued on Community Court eligible charges shall be eligible for release on personal recognizance as long as the warrant amount is $5,000 or below.

GAO 2020-09: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Operations

Effective July 24, 2020
Seattle Municipal Court modified phased reopening plan, changing week 7 and 8, extending week 8 through December 31, 2020 (Attachment C). Temperature screening mandatory at Seattle Justice Center.

GAO 2020-08: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Operations

Effective June 17, 2020
Seattle Municipal Court resumes emergency limited court operations in accordance with a phased-reopening plan (Attachment A).

GAO 2020-07: COVID-19 Emergency Court Closure

Effective April 15, 2020
Seattle Municipal Court continues emergency limited court closure operations consolidated to in-custody only appearances in courtroom KCJ2 in accordance with Washington Supreme Court Order No. 25700-B-606 and No. 25700-B-615. Defendant signatures will not be required on any forms.

New out-of-custody filings have been suspended until the court resumes regular operations. All out-of-custody hearings including out-of-custody arraignments scheduled between March 16 - July 31, 2020 will be cancelled . A new court date will administratively be set once the court resumes regular operations. All readiness and jury trial settings are cancelled through July 31, 2020. The date for resuming jury trials will be set when the court resumes regular operations.

GAO 2020-06: COVID-19 Emergency Court Closure

Effective March 19, 2020
Seattle Municipal Court will resume emergency limited court closure operations consolidated to in-custody only appearances in courtroom KCJ2 in accordance with Washington Supreme Court Order No. 25700-B-606.

All out-of-custody hearings including out-of-custody arraignments will be continued to the next available calendar no sooner than April 27, 2020. For the purpose of speedy trial, this will be considered an excluded period.

GAO 2020-05: COVID-19 Emergency Court Closure

Effective March 14, 2020
Seattle Municipal Court will be closed March 14 - March 20, 2020 due to COVID-19 exposure within the courthouse.

GAO 2020-04: COVID-19 Emergency Limited Court Closure

Effective March 16, 2020
Seattle Municipal Court will be closed with limited exception of in-custody cases and mandatory appearance hearings.
Urgent matters relating to impound of a motor vehicle may be scheduled through written request to the court.
All non-mandatory out-of-custody hearings will be continued to the next available court date no sooner than April 13, 2020.

GAO 2020-03: Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus

Effective March 11, 2020
Jury trials are suspended through at least April 13, 2020. The period of continuances will be excluded for speed trial under CrRLJ 3.3(e).
The court will grant agreed continuance requests on out-of-custody matters for non-mandatory hearings scheduled through April 13, 2020.
All future set in person appearances for contested hearings in Courtroom 301 & 302 set between March 12, 2020 - April 9, 2020 are continued.
IRLJ 2.6(a)(1) is suspended until further order of the court.

GAO 2020-02: Court Operations Under the Exigent Circumstances Created by COVID-19 and Related Coronavirus

Effective March 9, 2020
All future set in-person appearances for mitigation and contested hearings in courtroom 201 will be set for administration by mail appearances only.
IRLJ 2.6(a)(1)(i) is suspended until further order of the court. Written notice of the hearing may be sent more than 45 days from the notice of infraction.
SMCLIR 3.5(b) is amended to allow for the defendant's appeal of a decision based on written statements for a contested hearing.

SMCLR 1.7 ADOPTION OF LOCAL RULES

These rules are adopted pursuant to CrRLJ 1.7.

[Effective May 2, 1988.]