King County Overview

Superior Courts

King County is geographically the fourth largest county in the United States and by far the largest and most populous county in Washington. The main Courthouse is in downtown Seattle at 3rd and James Streets. It covers an entire city block and has twelve floors. There are over forty Superior Court judges and Courtrooms at the Seattle Courthouse, along with many court commissioners dealing with family law and related cases. The Superior Court in Seattle handles all adult felony offenses alleged to have occurred from the City of Shoreline in the north to Burien in the South, and all of the Eastside including Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Issaquah. The main jail is located two blocks from the Courthouse at 5th and James Streets.

King County also has a separate Juvenile Court located at 12th and Alder Streets in Seattle. This courthouse has four floors and an adjacent juvenile detention center. There are four Superior Court judges assigned to juvenile court, along with court commissioners who deal with dependency and other juvenile related matters.

There is a third location of the King County Superior Court located at the Regional Justice Center in Kent, Washington. This Courthouse is responsible for criminal and civil matters arising from Burien to the north and Federal Way to the South. There are sixteen Superior Court judges assigned to this Courthouse, along with several court commissioners dealing with family law and related matters. The King County jail also has a facility within the Regional Justice Center.

For information about all King County Superior Courts including directions, go to King County Superior Court.

District Courts

King County currently operates District Courts in Redmond, Issaquah, Bellevue, Seattle, Burien, Shoreline, and Kent. For information about these courts including directions, go to www.metrokc.gov/kcdc/divs.htm.

Municipal Courts

Almost every city in King County has its own municipal court, from Kirkland to Tukwila. It is simply not possible to list them all on this website. These courts should be listed in your local phone book under city government offices.

The Seattle Municipal Court, located in downtown Seattle just two blocks from the King County Courthouse, is the busiest court in Washington State. It has jurisdiction over all gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic infractions committed within the City of Seattle. It has eight elected judges and five appointed magistrates handling thousands of cases per year. For more information about the Seattle Municipal Court, go to www.cityofseattle.net/courts/house.htm.