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Washington state court system

April 13, 2024

In Washington, there are several state courts. Judges are elected and serve four-year or six-year terms. Most judges first come to office when the governor of Washington appoints them after a vacancy is created – either by the death, resignation, retirement, or removal of a sitting judge, or when a new seat on the bench is created by the Washington State Legislature.

Supreme Court edit

The Washington Supreme Court is the state supreme court of Washington. It is the highest court in the state and is based in the Temple of Justice at the Washington State Capitol campus in the state capital of Olympia.

Almost all the cases that the Court hears are appeals from the decisions of the Washington Court of Appeals. The court has discretionary jurisdiction, meaning it may choose which cases to hear. The court has original jurisdiction over a few cases. These original cases are mostly known as "writ" or "mandamus" actions to force a state official to do or not do an official act of government.

The Washington Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and eight justices, who are elected in nonpartisan elections and serve six-year terms. Terms are staggered so that three justices are elected every two years. There is a mandatory retirement age of 75.

Court of Appeals edit

The Washington Court of Appeals has three divisions, based in Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane. This court considers appeals in civil and criminal cases that are appealed from Superior Courts.

An appeal to the Court of Appeals is a matter of right - unlike the Washington Supreme Court, which has discretionary jurisdiction, the State Court of Appeals has mandatory jurisdiction – it must hear all civil and criminal appeals that are filed with the court. Court of Appeals judges are elected and serve six-year terms.

Superior Court edit

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. [1] Superior Court judges are elected and serve four-year terms.

District and Municipal Courts edit

Each of Washington's 39 counties also has a state District Court. These are courts of limited jurisdiction that hear traffic infractions, criminal traffic citations, misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, civil cases with an amount in controversy less than $100,000, and small claims suits.[2] The District Court conducts trials and other attendant hearings.[3] District Court judges are elected and serve four-year terms.

Washington's cities may establish Municipal Courts (e.g., Seattle Municipal Court). [4] [5] Municipal Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction like state District Courts, but Municipal Courts may not hear civil lawsuits. [6] A Municipal Court may only consider and has exclusive jurisdiction over non-criminal traffic citations, as well as misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes that occur within a city's boundary.[7] Municipal Courts conduct trials and other attendant hearings.[8] Municipal Court judges are elected or appointed by mayors or city councils and serve four-year terms.

References edit

  1. ^ "Washington State Courts - Resources". Washington State Courts.
  2. ^ (PDF). Washington Courts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2014-04-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Washington State Courts - Resources". Washington State Courts.
  4. ^ "RCW 3.50.010: Municipal court authorized in cities of four hundred thousand or less". State of Washington.
  5. ^ "RCW 35.20.010: Municipal court established—Termination of court—Agreement covering costs of handling resulting criminal cases—Arbitration—Notice". State of Washington.
  6. ^ "RCW 3.50.020: Jurisdiction". State of Washington.
  7. ^ "RCW 3.50.020: Jurisdiction". State of Washington.
  8. ^ "Washington State Courts - Resources". Washington State Courts. Washington State Courts. Retrieved 9 April 2014.

External links edit

April 13, 2024
washington, state, court, system, washington, there, several, state, courts, judges, elected, serve, four, year, year, terms, most, judges, first, come, office, when, governor, washington, appoints, them, after, vacancy, created, either, death, resignation, re. In Washington there are several state courts Judges are elected and serve four year or six year terms Most judges first come to office when the governor of Washington appoints them after a vacancy is created either by the death resignation retirement or removal of a sitting judge or when a new seat on the bench is created by the Washington State Legislature Contents 1 Supreme Court 2 Court of Appeals 3 Superior Court 4 District and Municipal Courts 5 References 6 External linksSupreme Court editThe Washington Supreme Court is the state supreme court of Washington It is the highest court in the state and is based in the Temple of Justice at the Washington State Capitol campus in the state capital of Olympia Almost all the cases that the Court hears are appeals from the decisions of the Washington Court of Appeals The court has discretionary jurisdiction meaning it may choose which cases to hear The court has original jurisdiction over a few cases These original cases are mostly known as writ or mandamus actions to force a state official to do or not do an official act of government The Washington Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and eight justices who are elected in nonpartisan elections and serve six year terms Terms are staggered so that three justices are elected every two years There is a mandatory retirement age of 75 Court of Appeals editThe Washington Court of Appeals has three divisions based in Tacoma Seattle and Spokane This court considers appeals in civil and criminal cases that are appealed from Superior Courts An appeal to the Court of Appeals is a matter of right unlike the Washington Supreme Court which has discretionary jurisdiction the State Court of Appeals has mandatory jurisdiction it must hear all civil and criminal appeals that are filed with the court Court of Appeals judges are elected and serve six year terms Superior Court editWashington 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 1 Superior Court judges are elected and serve four year terms District and Municipal Courts editEach of Washington s 39 counties also has a state District Court These are courts of limited jurisdiction that hear traffic infractions criminal traffic citations misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors civil cases with an amount in controversy less than 100 000 and small claims suits 2 The District Court conducts trials and other attendant hearings 3 District Court judges are elected and serve four year terms Washington s cities may establish Municipal Courts e g Seattle Municipal Court 4 5 Municipal Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction like state District Courts but Municipal Courts may not hear civil lawsuits 6 A Municipal Court may only consider and has exclusive jurisdiction over non criminal traffic citations as well as misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes that occur within a city s boundary 7 Municipal Courts conduct trials and other attendant hearings 8 Municipal Court judges are elected or appointed by mayors or city councils and serve four year terms References edit Washington State Courts Resources Washington State Courts Archived copy PDF Washington Courts Archived from the original PDF on 2014 06 12 Retrieved 2014 04 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Washington State Courts Resources Washington State Courts RCW 3 50 010 Municipal court authorized in cities of four hundred thousand or less State of Washington RCW 35 20 010 Municipal court established Termination of court Agreement covering costs of handling resulting criminal cases Arbitration Notice State of Washington RCW 3 50 020 Jurisdiction State of Washington RCW 3 50 020 Jurisdiction State of Washington Washington State Courts Resources Washington State Courts Washington State Courts Retrieved 9 April 2014 External links editOfficial website of the Washington court system Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Washington state court system amp oldid 1165095016, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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