Title 3, DISTRICT COURTS—COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION

(1) There shall be assessed and collected in addition to any fines, forfeitures, or penalties assessed, other than for parking infractions, by all courts organized under Title 3 or 35 RCW a public safety and education assessment equal to seventy percent of such fines, forfeitures…

District courts shall take all steps necessary to promote efficiencies in calendaring in order to minimize costs to cities that use the district courts. Cities shall cooperate with the district courts in order to minimize those costs. [ 1993 c 317 s 7.] Notes: Severability—Effect…

(1) The justices of the peace elected in accordance with chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW are authorized to hold court as judges of the district court for the trial of all actions enumerated in chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW or assigned to the district court by law; to hear, try, a…

If, for each claimant, the value of the claim or the amount at issue does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorneys' fees, the district court shall have jurisdiction and cognizance of the following civil actions and proceedings: (1) Acti…

The jurisdiction covered by RCW 3.66.020 shall not extend to the following civil actions: (1) Actions involving title to real property; (2) Actions for the foreclosure of a mortgage or enforcement of a lien on real estate; (3) Actions for false imprisonment, libel, slander, malic…

(1) An action arising under RCW 3.66.020 (1), (4), (6), (7), and (11) may be brought in any district in which the defendant, or, if there be more than one defendant, where some one of the defendants, resides at the time the complaint is filed or in which the defendant, or if ther…

If a civil action is brought in the wrong district, the action may nevertheless be tried therein unless the defendant, at the time the defendant appears, requests a transfer of the action to the proper district. Upon such demand an order shall be entered transferring the action t…

The district court shall have jurisdiction: (1) Concurrent with the superior court of all misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors committed in their respective counties and of all violations of city ordinances. It shall in no event impose a greater punishment than a fine of five thou…

If a defendant is found guilty, a judge holding office pursuant to chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW, or chapter 35.20 RCW, and not the jury, shall assess punishment, notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 10.04.100. If the judge determines that the punishment authorized is inadequat…

After a conviction, the court may impose sentence by suspending all or a portion of the defendant's sentence or by deferring the sentence of the defendant and may place the defendant on probation for a period of no longer than two years and prescribe the conditions thereof. A def…

(1) A court has continuing jurisdiction and authority to suspend the execution of all or any part of its sentence upon stated terms, including installment payment of fines for a period not to exceed: (a) Five years after imposition of sentence for a defendant sentenced for a dome…

Deferral of sentence and suspension of execution of sentence may be revoked if the defendant violates or fails to carry out any of the conditions of the deferral or suspension. Upon the revocation of the deferral or suspension, the court may impose the sentence previously suspend…

Before a sentence is imposed upon a defendant convicted of a crime against property, the court or the prosecuting authority shall check existing judicial information systems to determine the criminal history of the defendant. [ 2009 c 431 s 17.] Notes: Applicability—2009 c 431: S…

(1) All criminal actions shall be brought in the district where the alleged violation occurred: PROVIDED, That (a) the prosecuting attorney may file felony cases in the district in which the county seat is located, (b) with the consent of the defendant criminal actions other than…

If a criminal action is commenced in an improper district under RCW 3.66.070, the court may of its own volition or at the request of either party order the case removed for trial to a proper district. [ 1984 c 258 s 48; 1961 c 299 s 119.] Notes: Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effe…

A change of venue may be allowed upon motion: (1) Where there is reason to believe that an impartial trial cannot be had in the district or municipal court in which the action was commenced; or (2) Where the convenience of witnesses or the ends of justice would be forwarded by th…

(1) Every district judge having authority to hear a particular case may issue criminal process in and to any place in the state. (2) Every district judge having authority to hear a particular case may issue civil process, including writs of execution, attachment, garnishment, and…

It shall be a breach of judicial ethics for any judge of any court of limited jurisdiction, as defined in RCW 3.02.010, to advertise in any manner that he or she is authorized to solemnize marriages. Any violation of this section shall be grounds for forfeiture of office. [ 1983 …

"Legal financial obligation" means a sum of money that is ordered by a district or municipal court of the state of Washington for legal financial obligations which may include restitution to the victim, court costs, county or interlocal drug funds, court-appointed attorneys' fees…

(1) All court-ordered restitution obligations that are ordered as a result of a conviction for a criminal offense in a court of limited jurisdiction may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action by the party or entity to whom the legal financial obligation is…

If the party or entity for whom a court-ordered restitution obligation has been entered pursuant to this title seeks to enforce the judgment as a lien on real estate, he or she shall commence a lien of judgment upon the real estate of the judgment debtor/obligor as provided in RC…

(1) If a person placed on probation for one year or more for a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor by a district court requests permission to travel or transfer to another state, the assigned probation officer shall determine whether such request is subject to RCW 9.94A.745, the int…

There is established in the state an association, to be known as the Washington state district and municipal court judges' association, membership in which shall include all duly elected or appointed and qualified judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, including but not limite…

Members of the Washington state district and municipal court judges' association may either amend the present bylaws of the association, adopt a constitution, or provide for bylaws only, electing officers as provided therein and doing all things necessary and proper to formally e…

For attendance at the annual meetings of the association, beginning in 1962 and thereafter, a judge of a court of limited jurisdiction shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for judge's reasonable travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 from the county or c…

The Washington state district and municipal court judges' association shall: (1) Continuously survey and study the operation of the courts served by its membership, the volume and condition of business of such courts, the methods of procedure therein, the work accomplished, and t…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Court" when used without further qualification means the district court under chapter 3.30 RCW, the municipal department under chapter 3.46 RCW, or the municipal cour…

(1) A court created under chapter 3.30, 3.46, 3.50, or 35.20 RCW may create a youth court. The youth court shall have jurisdiction over civil, traffic, and transit infractions alleged to have been committed by juveniles age sixteen or seventeen. The court may refer a juvenile to …

(1) A youth court agreement shall be a contract between a juvenile accused of a traffic infraction, transit infraction, or civil infraction and a court whereby the juvenile agrees to fulfill certain conditions imposed by a youth court in lieu of a determination that the infractio…

Youth courts provide a disposition method for cases involving juveniles alleged to have committed traffic or transit infractions. Youth courts may also provide diversion in cases involving juvenile offenders who are eligible for diversion pursuant to RCW 13.40.070 (6) and (8) and…

The administrative office of the courts shall encourage the courts to work with cities, counties, and schools to implement, expand, or use youth court programs for juveniles who commit traffic infractions, transit infractions, or civil infractions. Program operations of youth cou…

A court may require that a youth pay a nonrefundable fee, not exceeding thirty dollars, to cover the costs of administering the program. The fee may be reduced or waived for a participant. Fees shall be paid to and accounted for by the court. The fees collected under this section…

All district judges under chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW shall remain members of the state retirement system. [ 1984 c 258 s 54; 1961 c 299 s 130.] Notes: Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.

The full time judges of the district court shall be ineligible to any other office, or public employment than a judicial office or employment during the term for which they shall have been elected. [ 1984 c 258 s 55; 1961 c 299 s 131.] Notes: Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effecti…

A district judge shall retire from judicial office at the expiration of the judge's term of office in which he or she has attained the age of seventy-five years. This provision shall not affect the term to which any such judge shall have been elected or appointed prior to August …

All cases, proceedings and matters pending before justice courts, police courts, municipal courts and night courts shall be transferred to the appropriate court established by chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW, together with all files, records and proceedings relating to such cases.…

Any prior action by the legislative authority of any county with a population of less than two hundred ten thousand to make the provisions of chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW applicable to their county and the organization of any justice court as a result thereof, and all other thi…