King County Superior Court Chambers Communication Rules

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Email to chambers

Counsel and parties must jointly complete the Estimate of Witness Examinations form and email it to the bailiff at mccoy.court@kingcounty.gov as soon as possible.

Counsel/parties shall work together to complete this form and submit it to the bailiff via email at mccoy.court@kingcounty.gov, as soon as possible.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must immediately call or email the bailiff if a case settles or if they wish to strike a filed motion from the calendar, since the court is not otherwise notified of such resolutions.

Please call or email the bailiff immediately if a case settles or if you wish to strike a motion you have filed from the court’s calendar. Trial courts are not notified when a case otherwise resolves through the ex parte department, or when a Notice of Settlement is filed within the Court record.

CRITICAL

Ex parte communications are prohibited unless a court rule permits them or the judge approves them.

No ex parte communications unless expressly permitted by Court rule or approval of the judge.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

For Kent (MRJC) violations, the State must email the proposed warrant and Notice of Violation to the MRJC Chief Judges Bailiff and copy defense counsel.

The State must email a copy of the proposed warrant and Notice of Violation to the MRJC Chief Judges Bailiff and copy defense counsel.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Proposed orders with motions to seal must be sent first to the Chief Criminal or Chief Juvenile Judge by email, unless the attorney gets specific permission from the judge.

If the proposed order is accompanied by a motion to seal, defense shall send the documents first to the Chief Criminal Judge or Chief Juvenile Judge. Proposed orders with motions to seal must be submitted by e-mail to the Chief Criminal Judge (seacriminalmotions@kingcounty.gov) or Chief Juvenile Bailiff unless the attorney receives specific permission from the judge

CRITICAL

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Email to chambers

For a Seattle CCAP violation, the State must email the proposed warrant and Notice of Violation to SeaCriminalMotions@kingcounty.gov and copy defense counsel.

For a CCAP violation, the State must email a copy of the proposed warrant and Notice of Violation to SeaCriminalMotions@kingcounty.gov and copy defense counsel.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Guilty pleas are scheduled by email to the designated plea court address (pleacourtMRJC@kingcounty.gov for Kent; pleacourtseattle@kingcounty.gov for Seattle).

For Kent designated cases, a plea can be scheduled by e-mailing pleacourtMRJC@kingcounty.gov For Seattle designated cases, a plea can be scheduled by e-mailing pleacourtseattle@kingcounty.gov

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Defense counsel must email Seattle Criminal Motions or Kent Criminal Motions (cc'ing the assigned DPA or PAO Records) at least two court days in advance to state their intent to address release at the first omnibus hearing after booking on a warrant.

Defense counsel must affirmatively state their intent to address release by emailing Seattle Criminal Motions or Kent Criminal Motions and cc'ing the assigned DPA or PAO Records. Two court days' notice must be provided.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Motions without oral argument should not be confirmed with the bailiff and must be set per KCLR notice requirements.

Do not confirm motions without oral argument. Set these in compliance with KCLR's notice requirements.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Please notify the bailiff to strike a motion or if the case has settled.

Please notify the bailiff to strike a motion or if the case has settled.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Motions requiring oral argument must be scheduled by emailing the bailiff with case name, number, opposing counsel, and approaching deadlines, and must be confirmed by the bailiff.

Email the bailiff to schedule motions requiring oral argument. Include case name, number, and name of opposing counsel, and any deadlines that may be approaching that should be considered when scheduling. Such motions must be confirmed by the bailiff.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Motions requiring oral argument must be scheduled by emailing Judge York's bailiff.

Email Judge York's bailiff to schedule motions requiring oral argument.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Ex parte contact is prohibited; the other party or counsel must be copied on all communications sent to the court.

Ex parte contact is not permitted, and the other party or counsel must be copied on any communications sent to the court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Correspondence must go through the bailiff and must not be emailed directly to Judge Whedbee.

Do not email Judge Whedbee directly. All correspondence must go through the bailiff.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails to the bailiff are not forwarded to the judge, and including all parties does not make such communication permissible.

The bailiff does not forward any communication with counsel/parties to the judge. Even if all parties are included on the email, this is considered ex parte communication with the judge and is not permitted.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All case-related email to the court must be sent only to the courtroom address vargas.court@kingcounty.gov, and the judge's individual email address must not be used absent express invitation.

Parties are to refer to the Superior Court Email Policy prior to sending an email to the Court. The only address to be used by attorneys, self-represented litigants, or others who need to communicate with court staff about a case is the courtroom e-mail address: vargas.court@kingcounty.gov. Absent express invitation by the judge, the judge's individual email address must not be used.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Dispositive motions are heard on Friday mornings. The scheduling party shall consult with opposing counsel(s) before contacting the court. Doing so reduces the need to reschedule hearings due to conflicts. Parties are encouraged to contact the court far in advance of trial to schedule a dispositive motion, as time slots are limited.

Dispositive motions are heard on Friday mornings. The scheduling party shall consult with opposing counsel(s) before contacting the court. Doing so reduces the need to reschedule hearings due to conflicts. Parties are encouraged to contact the court far in advance of trial to schedule a dispositive motion, as time slots are limited.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

To arrange an informal discovery-dispute conference, email vargas.court@kingcounty.gov with a succinct, non-argumentative description of the dispute and each party's position, copying all parties.

If the parties agree to informal guidance or resolution, please email vargas.court@kingcounty.gov to arrange a conference. The email should – as succinctly and non-argumentatively as possible – describe the nature of the dispute and set forth each parties' position. (As always, you must copy all parties on any email to the court.)

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

All case-related communication with court staff must go through holloway.court@kingcounty.gov; Judge Holloway's individual email may not be used unless specifically invited.

For all case-related communication with court staff, attorneys and self-represented (“pro se”) litigants must use the courtroom email address: holloway.court@kingcounty.gov. Unless the judge has specifically invited you to do so, do not use Judge Holloway’s individual email address.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

To schedule a hearing for a dispositive motion, email the Bailiff (or call if no email); hearings are generally set Friday mornings, and requests must be made at least 2 months in advance.

If you are setting a dispositive motion and need a hearing date and time, you must e-mail the Bailiff at petersen.court@kingcounty.gov to schedule time on the Court’s calendar. If you do not have access to e-mail, please call the above number. Dispositive motions are generally set on Friday mornings (at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., or 11 a.m.). Please call or email to schedule your hearing at least 2 months prior to the hearing date you would like to request.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

To set a dispositive motion, parties must email the Bailiff (manca.court@kingcounty.gov) or call if without email access, at least 2 months before the requested hearing date; dispositive motions are generally set Friday mornings at 9, 10, or 11 am.

If you are setting a dispositive motion and need a hearing date and time, you must e-mail the Bailiff at manca.court@kingcounty.gov to schedule time on the Court's calendar. If you do not have access to e-mail, please call the above number. Dispositive motions are generally set on Friday mornings (at 9 am, 10 am, or 11 am). Please call or email to schedule your hearing at least 2 months prior to the hearing date you would like to request.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Motions must not be noted until the bailiff sends back confirmation that the hearing date is available.

Do not note your motion until the bailiff has sent back confirmation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Dispositive motion hearings are held on Fridays and certain Thursday afternoons in one-hour slots, and parties must select a date, confirm all parties' availability, and then contact the bailiff to confirm the date.

Dispositive motions are heard on Fridays as well as certain Thursday afternoons. Judge Bender is available in one-hour slots. Please select a date and then check with all opposing counsel or pro se parties to make sure that the date works before contacting the bailiff. Doing so reduces the need to reschedule hearings due to conflicts. Once you have selected a date and confirmed all parties' availability, you must contact the bailiff to confirm the date is still available.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

After confirming all parties' availability, the moving party must contact the bailiff to confirm the date and must not note the motion until the bailiff sends back confirmation.

Once you have selected a date and confirmed all parties' availability, you must contact the bailiff to confirm the date is still available. DO NOT note your motion until the bailiff has sent back confirmation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A moving party that elects not to proceed with a motion must immediately notify the court to strike the hearing (KCLCR 7(b)(4)(H)).

As there are hundreds of cases on the Court's caseload competing for limited motion availability, If the moving party elects for any reason not to proceed with the motion, that party shall notify the court to strike the hearing immediately, per KCLCR 7(b)(4)(H).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must confirm the proposed hearing date with all opposing counsel and pro se parties before contacting the bailiff, and the court will not schedule the motion unless all parties have indicated availability.

Please select a date from this calendar and then check with all opposing counsel or pro se parties to make sure that the date works before contacting the bailiff, as this is required. Doing so reduces the need to reschedule hearings due to conflicts. The court will not schedule the motion unless all parties have indicated they are available.

CRITICAL

Counsel must give the bailiff contact information for jury questions or verdict during deliberations.

Provide the bailiff with contact information in case of a jury question or verdict.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Conference requests must be emailed to ballinger.court@kingcounty.gov with a succinct, non-argumentative description of the issue and all parties copied.

Please email ballinger.court@kingcounty.gov to arrange a conference. The email should—as succinctly and non-argumentatively as possible—describe the nature of the issue or dispute. You must copy all parties on any email to the court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Scheduling email requests must include the case name and cause number, names and email addresses of all counsel/pro se parties, and the type of hearing with requested dates.

Email requests must include the following: Case name and cause number Names and email addresses for all counsel and/or pro se parties involved in the case Type of hearing and date(s) requests from the available dates on the calendar below

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Before contacting the bailiff, the moving party must confirm the proposed hearing date works for all opposing counsel or pro se parties; the court will not schedule the motion otherwise.

Please select a date from this calendar and then check with all opposing counsel or pro se parties to make sure that the date works before contacting the bailiff, as this is required. Doing so reduces the need to reschedule hearings due to conflicts. The court will not schedule the motion unless all parties have indicated they are available.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

DO NOT email the judge directly. All email correspondence must go through the bailiff. Please see the email address listed above.

DO NOT email the judge directly. All email correspondence must go through the bailiff. Please see the email address listed above.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

A moving party not proceeding with a motion must immediately notify the court to strike the hearing per KCLCR 7(b)(4)(H).

If the moving party elects for any reason not to proceed with the motion, that party shall notify the court to strike the hearing immediately, per KCLCR 7(b)(4)(H).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must email the bailiff immediately upon settlement or to strike a filed motion from the court's calendar.

Please email the bailiff immediately if a case settles or if you wish to strike a motion you have filed from the court's calendar.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Working copies may not be emailed directly to the Court or the bailiff without prior permission.

Please do not email any working copies directly to the Court or to her bailiff without prior permission.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties must confirm date availability with the bailiff and may not note their motion until the bailiff sends back confirmation.

Once you have selected a date and confirmed all parties' availability, you must contact the bailiff to confirm the date is still available. DO NOT note your motion until the bailiff has sent back confirmation.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Dispositive motions must be scheduled by emailing the Bailiff (or calling if no email access) and are generally set on Friday mornings at 9, 10, or 11 am.

If you are setting a dispositive motion, you must e-mail the Bailiff and schedule time on Judge Lapin's calendar. If you do not have access to e-mail, please call the above number. Dispositive motions are generally set on Friday mornings (at 9 am, 10 am, or 11 am).

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Parties may not email Judge Lapin directly; all correspondence must be routed through the Bailiff.

Do not email Judge Lapin directly. All correspondence must go through the Bailiff.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Zoom links may not be forwarded without explicit court permission.

Do not forward the Zoom link without explicit permission from the court.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Civil hearings are typically via Zoom; in-person appearance requires advance email notice to the court.

Civil hearings in Department 6 are typically conducted via Zoom. If you prefer to appear in person, please notify the court by email in advance so that all parties can be afforded the same opportunity.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Hearing date requests for dispositive motions must be emailed to the court with case number/name and nature of the motion.

Dispositive motions are heard on Fridays. Any request for a hearing date must be emailed to the court and include the case number/name and the nature of the motion.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The court must be notified immediately of settlement or motion strike.

Please notify the court immediately if your case settles or you need to strike a motion.

CRITICAL

Parties are requested to IMMEDIATELY notify the bailiff when a case settles and/or a scheduled motion needs to be stricken.

Parties are requested to IMMEDIATELY notify the bailiff when a case settles and/or a scheduled motion needs to be stricken.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Judge Ryan's court prefers for parties to communicate through email for any scheduling or administrative matters. This allows for all parties/counsel to be included in the correspondence to avoid ex parte communication. Parties shall review and comply with the Email Policy of King County Superior Court and shall not involve any substantive discussion about issues related to the case. Violations of these requirements may result in sanctions.

Judge Ryan's court prefers for parties to communicate through email for any scheduling or administrative matters. This allows for all parties/counsel to be included in the correspondence to avoid ex parte communication. Parties shall review and comply with the Email Policy of King County Superior Court and shall not involve any substantive discussion about issues related to the case. Violations of these requirements may result in sanctions.

CRITICAL

Recording or photography while the Court is on the record is prohibited without prior permission.

Recording or photography of any kind while the Court is on the record is strictly prohibited without prior permission of the Court.