Title 2 — Title 2 COURTS OF RECORD

The superior court shall have original jurisdiction in all cases in equity, and in all cases at law which involve the title or possession of real property, or the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, toll or municipal fine, and in all other cases in which the demand or the va…

The superior courts shall have such appellate jurisdiction in cases arising in courts of limited jurisdiction in their respective counties as may be prescribed by law.[ 1987 c 202 s 102; 1890 p 343 s 6; RRS s 17.]Notes:Rules of court: See Rules for Appeal of Decisions of Courts o…

The superior courts are courts of record, and shall be always open, except on nonjudicial days. They shall hold their sessions at the county seats of the several counties, respectively, and at such other places within the county as are designated by the judge or judges thereof wi…

Adjournments from day to day, or from time to time, are to be construed as recesses in the sessions, and shall not prevent the court from sitting at any time.[ 1890 p 343 s 8; RRS s 26.]Notes:Rules of court: Cf. CR 77(g).

The seals of the superior courts of the several counties of the state shall be, until otherwise provided by law, the vignette of General George Washington, with the words "Seal of the Superior Court of . . . . . . County, State of Washington," surrounding the vignette.[ 1890 p 34…

There shall be in each of the counties a superior court. Judges of the superior court shall be elected at the general election in November, 1952, and every four years thereafter.[ 1951 c 125 s 2; 1949 c 237 ss 1-5, part; 1945 c 20 s 1, part; 1933 ex.s. c 63 ss 1-3, part; 1927 c 1…

There shall be in the county of King no more than fifty-eight judges of the superior court; in the county of Spokane thirteen judges of the superior court; and in the county of Pierce twenty-four judges of the superior court.[ 1997 c 347 s 3; 1996 c 208 s 3; 1992 c 189 s 1; 1989 …

There shall be in the county of Chelan four judges of the superior court; in the county of Douglas one judge of the superior court; in the county of Clark 12 judges of the superior court; in the county of Grays Harbor three judges of the superior court; in the county of Kitsap ei…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5868.SL) ***There shall be in the county of Lincoln one judge of the superior court; in the county of Skagit, four judges of the superior court; in the county of Walla Walla, two judges of the superior court; in the county of Whitman, one judge of the …

There shall be in the counties of Benton and Franklin jointly, seven judges of the superior court; in the county of Clallam, three judges of the superior court; in the county of Jefferson, one judge of the superior court; in the county of Snohomish, 17 judges of the superior cour…

There shall be in the county of Grant, three judges of the superior court; in the county of Okanogan, two judges of the superior court; in the county of Mason, three judges of the superior court; in the county of Thurston, nine judges of the superior court; in the counties of Pac…

Unless otherwise provided, upon the taking effect of any act providing for additional judges of the superior court and thereby creating a vacancy, the governor shall appoint a person to hold the office until the election and qualification of a judge to fill the vacancy, which ele…

The judges of the superior court elected under the provisions of RCW 2.08.060 through 2.08.065 shall hold their offices for the term of four years from and after the second Monday in January next succeeding their election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.[ 19…

Every judge of a superior court shall, before entering upon the duties of his or her office, take and subscribe an oath that he or she will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Washington, and will faithfully and impartially discharge…

The annual salary of the judges of the superior court shall be established by the Washington citizens' commission on salaries for elected officials.[ 1986 c 155 s 6; 1984 c 258 s 403.]Notes:Contingent effective date—Severability—1986 c 155: See notes following RCW 43.03.300.Court…

The county auditor of each county shall pay superior court judges in the same means and manner provided for all other elected officials.[ 1997 c 204 s 1; 1939 c 189 s 1; 1893 c 30 s 1; 1890 p 329 s 2; RRS s 10967.]Notes:Distribution of work of courts by chief justice—Unavailabili…

Where there is only one judge of the superior court for two or more counties, the auditors thereof, acting together, shall apportion among or between such counties, according to the assessed valuation of their taxable property, the amount of such judge's salary that each county s…

Whenever a judge of the superior court shall serve a district comprising more than one county, such judge shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in connection with business of the court in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended for trave…

(1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of judge of the superior court, the governor shall appoint a person to hold the office until the election and qualification of a judge to fill the vacancy, which election shall be at the next succeeding general election, and the judge so elec…

Whenever a judge of the superior court of any county in this state, or a majority of such judges in any county in which there is more than one judge of said court, shall request the governor of the state to direct a judge of the superior court of any other county to hold a sessio…

Whenever a like request shall be addressed by the judge, or by a majority of the judges (if there be more than one) of the superior court of any county to the superior judge of any other county, he or she is hereby empowered, if he or she deem it consistent with the state of judi…

In any county where there shall be more than one superior judge, or in which a superior judge of another county may be holding a session of the superior court, as provided in RCW 2.08.140 through 2.08.170, there may be as many sessions of the superior court at the same time as th…

Any judge of the superior court of any county in this state who shall hold a session of the superior court of any other county, in pursuance of the provisions of RCW 2.08.140 through 2.08.170 shall be entitled to receive from the county in which he or she shall hold such sessions…

A case in the superior court of any county may be tried by a judge pro tempore, who must be either: (1) A member of the bar, agreed upon in writing by the parties litigant, or their attorneys of record, approved by the court, and sworn to try the case; or (2) pursuant to supreme …

An attorney may not serve as a superior court judge pro tempore or a superior court commissioner pro tempore in a judicial district while appointed to or serving on a case in that judicial district as a guardian ad litem for compensation under Title 11, 13, or 26 RCW, if that jud…

Any judge of the superior court of the state of Washington shall have power, in any county within his or her district: (1) To sign all necessary orders and papers in probate matters pending in any other county in his or her district; (2) to issue restraining orders, and to sign t…

Any judge of the superior court of the state of Washington who shall have heard any cause, either upon motion, demurrer, issue of fact, or other matter in any county out of his or her district, may decide, rule upon, and determine the same in any county in this state, which decis…

The process of the superior courts shall extend to all parts of the state: PROVIDED, That all actions for the recovery of the possession of, quieting the title to, or for the enforcement of liens upon, real estate, shall be commenced in the county in which the real estate, or any…

Unless otherwise provided by statute, all process issuing out of the court shall be directed to the sheriff of the county in which it is to be served, and be by him or her executed according to law.[ 2011 c 336 s 20; 1891 c 45 s 5; RRS s 35.]

The judges of the superior courts shall, from time to time, establish uniform rules for the government of the superior courts.[ 1890 p 344 s 13; RRS s 36.]Notes:Rule-making power, supreme court: RCW 2.04.180 through 2.04.210.Superior court rules: State Constitution Art. 4 s 24.Su…

Every case submitted to a judge of a superior court for his or her decision shall be decided by him or her within ninety days from the submission thereof: PROVIDED, That if within said period of ninety days a rehearing shall have been ordered, then the period within which he or s…

Superior judges shall, on or before the first day of November in each year, report in writing to the judges of the supreme court, such defects and omissions in the laws as their experience may suggest.[ 1890 p 344 s 14; RRS s 11050.]Notes:Annual report to supreme court: State Con…