Washington Court Docket Search

Per the provisions of the Washington Public Records Act, members of the public are entitled to access information about active and/or closed cases from specific courts in the state of Washington. A court docket search can provide details on the timeline and proceedings in a case, including dates of hearings, opinions, decisions made by judges, and other relevant documents. It may also list any parties or witnesses associated with a particular case.

Like a typical Washington court record, a court docket is an official document that lists active cases as well as all past, current, and future actions taken on a case. For each case listed on the docket, this log also contains the case number, the case filing date, the names of the parties involved, the length of the proceeding, and other important information. Interested members of the public may access court dockets physically at the court clerk’s office or online. For instance, the Washington Appellate Court keeps an online docket, and the majority of county courts make these records accessible online.

Are Court Dockets Public Records in Washington?

Yes, court dockets are public records. According to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW Title 40), any member of the public can access court records (including dockets, orders, decrees, and judgments), with a few exceptions, which may include files that are sealed by judicial order. Only case parties, attorneys, or authorized court personnel can have public access to dockets of sealed records.

Where to Find a Court Docket in Washington

Court dockets are considered court records and are preserved at courthouses. Anyone interested in gaining access to information in these files can conduct their search at the courthouse where the case was filed. A requester would be assured of receiving the correct information about a case by visiting a courtroom where a court docket is maintained. In the state of Washington, some courts offer online access to court dockets. The appellate court dockets, for instance, are accessible on the official judiciary website.

Court dockets and cases can be accessed through third-party aggregation websites, but users should exercise caution because the accuracy of this material cannot be guaranteed. While looking for information on cases of interest on these websites may be a good start, it is best to check the courthouse where the case was filed to ensure that the material is accurate and full.

How to Conduct a Washington Court Docket Search

As mentioned in the previous section, members of the public can conduct a court docket search by visiting the courthouse where the case of interest was filed because that is where the documents are maintained.

Courts in Washington generally provide access to court dockets through electronic or physical formats and any interested individual can access these files. For records in electronic format, the requester can visit the court’s official website and conduct a search, using specific keywords that relate to the case of interest such as party’s names, case numbers, or filing date.

For instance, in Kings County, the Superior Court offers online access to court dockets through the KC Script portal, where users can examine these documents without even creating a user account by merely typing the case number, parties' names, or filing date.

On its official website, the Washington Judiciary also makes appellate court dockets available online. For instance, by selecting the "courts" area and then the "appellate court dockets" section on the portal, users can access docket information from the several Courts of Appeal divisions. This information is given on the portal in list format.

In conclusion, even though many courts provide access to court dockets online, going in person to the courthouse where the case was filed is the most secure approach to inspecting these data. The clerk's office will provide copies of records upon request, however, depending on how many copies are needed, a processing fee may be charged.

Using Third Party Sites for a Washington Court Docket Search

Certain private aggregate websites also disseminate court dockets, e.g., for cases of public interest. When using third-party sites for a Washington court docket search, care should be taken to verify case information or documents obtained against the official dockets maintained by the applicable court clerk's office (where the case was filed). This way, a researcher can guarantee the accuracy and completeness of case information retrieved from third-party sites.

What is the Purpose of a Court Docket in Washington?

The court docket serves multiple purposes in the judicial process, making it an invaluable document. The first and primary purpose of this document is to provide the court with a list of all the pending cases in a particular court within the state of Washington and this aids the court to ensure that all cases are handled in a timely manner with all the requirements for each case. Court dockets help the court maintain and organize cases filed for smooth and effective proceedings.

Additionally, the court docket offers crucial information to all parties involved in a case, including a plaintiff, a defendant, the attorneys involved, and the public. Information that the interested party may be seeking, including the name of the court, the date and time of the proceeding, the case outcomes, and the judge or jury engaged.

What Do Court Dockets Contain Washington?

The information captured on a court docket in Washington facilitates the easy retrieval and maintenance of specific cases. These are the details that tell the who, what, when, where, and how of every case filed in court and this is very critical.

The details contained in a Washington court docket are as follows:

The names of the parties to the case, including the defendant and plaintiff/prosecutor, or appellant and respondent in the case of an appeal.
The names of the legal counsel for both parties.
The location of the court case, including a clearly stated address or link (this could be online or in person).
The hearing's date, time, and duration.
The date of case filing.
The case number assigned.
Kind of case. A criminal offense, a serious infraction, a family matter, or a civil dispute.
The name (s) of the judge, magistrate, or jury presiding over the case.

It is important to keep in mind that depending on the state's several courts and each one's main purpose, the court dockets in Washington may differ. The material mentioned above may only be present in part in some dockets, while other dockets may provide more information.

What is a Court Docket Number in Washington?

A docket number in Washington is a unique code assigned to every court case filed in any courthouse within the state. This code is used as a tracking number in every courthouse for filing and maintaining court case documents and this makes the file retrieval a lot easier. The number appears on all documents pertaining to a case. Every county court may have a different method for assigning docket numbers. For example, Spokane County uses a 9-digit numbering system, which is set up as follows: 90–4–01953–5.

The year that the case was filed is indicated by the first two numerals, 90.
The second numeral, 4, designates the sort of case, which can be either civil, criminal or probate.
The next set of digits, 01953, is the actual sequential number beginning from “00001” in that year.
The last digit, 5, is the "check digit" and is used to confirm that the year and previous digits are correct.

How to Conduct a Court Docket Number Lookup in Washington

Regardless of the courtroom or location where the docket is generated, a court docket number is a crucial component that comes with every court docket in Washington. When it comes to obtaining or retrieving information or documents related to a court case, this is a crucial piece of information. A court docket number can be used by anyone looking for information on a case to do an online search or to retrieve the material in person from the court clerk's office.

Generally, anyone looking for a court docket number in Washington should have the full name of a case party, the case attorney, or the presiding judge. The person can then enter the keyword(s) into the online docket search tool offered on the court's or clerk of the court's website to find the docket number assigned by the court.

The alternative for people who might not have internet access for whatever reason and are unable to request docket numbers online is to go to the relevant courthouse clerk's office during business hours to retrieve them. Remember that there can be a charge for getting copies of case documents, and the price might change depending on the particular courthouse. It is also possible to look up the Washington court docket number on a case document.