DISTRICT COURTS

RCW 3.30
in effect

RCW 3.30.010 Definitions.

As used in this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise: "City" means an incorporated city or town. "Department" means an administrative unit of a district court established for the orderly and efficient administration of business and may include, without being limited in scope thereby, a unit or units for determining traffic cases, violations of city ordinances, violations of state law, criminal cases, civil cases, or jury cases. As used in this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise: "City" means an incorporated city or town. "Department" means an administrative unit of a district court established for the orderly and efficient administration of business and may include, without being limited in scope thereby, a unit or units for determining traffic cases, violations of city ordinances, violations of state law, criminal cases, civil cases, or jury cases.

RCW 3.30.015 Construction of "justices of the peace," "justice courts," "justice of the peace courts."

All references to justices of the peace in other titles of the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed as meaning district judges. All references to justice courts or justice of the peace courts in other titles of the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed as meaning district courts. All references to justices of the peace in other titles of the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed as meaning district judges. All references to justice courts or justice of the peace courts in other titles of the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed as meaning district courts.

RCW 3.30.020 Application of chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW.

The provisions of chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW shall apply to each county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more: PROVIDED, That any city having a population of more than four hundred thousand may by resolution of its legislative body elect to continue to operate a municipal court pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35.20 RCW, as if chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW had never been enacted: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if a city elects to continue its municipal court pursuant to this section, the number of district judges allocated to the county in RCW 3.34.010 shall be reduced by two and the number of full time district judges allocated by RCW 3.34.020 to the district in which the city is situated shall also be reduced by two. The provisions of chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW may be made applicable to any county with a population of less than two hundred ten thousand upon a majority vote of its county legislative authority. The provisions of chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW shall apply to each county with a population of two hundred ten thousand or more: PROVIDED, That any city having a population of more than four hundred thousand may by resolution of its legislative body elect to continue to operate a municipal court pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35.20 RCW, as if chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW had never been enacted: PROVIDED FURTHER, That if a city elects to continue its municipal court pursuant to this section, the number of district judges allocated to the county in RCW 3.34.010 shall be reduced by two and the number of full time district judges allocated by RCW 3.34.020 to the district in which the city is situated shall also be reduced by two. The provisions of chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW may be made applicable to any county with a population of less than two hundred ten thousand upon a majority vote of its county legislative authority.

RCW 3.30.030 Nomenclature for judges and courts.

The judges of each district court district shall be the justices of the peace of the district elected or appointed as provided in chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW. Such courts shall alternately be referred to as district courts and the judges thereof as district judges. The judges of each district court district shall be the justices of the peace of the district elected or appointed as provided in chapters 3.30 through 3.74 RCW. Such courts shall alternately be referred to as district courts and the judges thereof as district judges.

RCW 3.30.040 Sessions.

The district courts shall be open except on nonjudicial days. Sessions of the court shall be held at such places as shall be provided by the district court districting plan. The court shall sit as often as business requires in each city of the district which provides suitable courtroom facilities, to hear causes in which such city is the plaintiff. The district courts shall be open except on nonjudicial days. Sessions of the court shall be held at such places as shall be provided by the district court districting plan. The court shall sit as often as business requires in each city of the district which provides suitable courtroom facilities, to hear causes in which such city is the plaintiff.

RCW 3.30.050 Departments.

Each court may be organized in a manner consistent with the departments created by the districting plan. Each court may be organized in a manner consistent with the departments created by the districting plan.

RCW 3.30.060 Adjournments.

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. 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.

RCW 3.30.070 Records.

The clerk of each district court shall keep uniform records of each case filed and the proceedings had therein including an accounting for all funds received and disbursed. Financial reporting shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the state auditor. The form of other records may be prescribed by the supreme court. The clerk of each district court shall keep uniform records of each case filed and the proceedings had therein including an accounting for all funds received and disbursed. Financial reporting shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the state auditor. The form of other records may be prescribed by the supreme court.

RCW 3.30.080 Rules.

The supreme court may adopt rules of procedure for district courts. A district court may adopt local rules of procedure which are not inconsistent with state law or with the rules adopted by the supreme court. The rules for a county with a single district and multiple facilities may include rules to provide where cases shall be filed and where cases shall be heard. If the rules of the supreme court authorized under this section are adopted, all procedural laws in conflict with the rules shall be of no effect. The supreme court may adopt rules of procedure for district courts. A district court may adopt local rules of procedure which are not inconsistent with state law or with the rules adopted by the supreme court. The rules for a county with a single district and multiple facilities may include rules to provide where cases shall be filed and where cases shall be heard. If the rules of the supreme court authorized under this section are adopted, all procedural laws in conflict with the rules shall be of no effect.

RCW 3.30.090 Violations bureau.

A violations bureau may be established by any city or district court having jurisdiction of traffic cases to assist in processing traffic cases. As designated by written order of the court having jurisdiction of traffic cases, specific offenses under city ordinance, county resolution, or state law may be processed by such bureau. Such bureau may be authorized to receive the posting of bail for such specified offenses, and, as authorized by the court order, to accept forfeiture of bail and payment of monetary penalties. The court order shall specify the amount of bail to be posted and shall also specify the circumstances or conditions which will require an appearance before the court. Such bureau, upon accepting the prescribed bail, shall issue a receipt to the alleged violator, which receipt shall bear a legend informing him or her of the legal consequences of bail forfeiture. The bureau shall transfer daily to the clerk of the proper department of the court all bail posted for offenses where forfeiture is not authorized by the court order, as well as copies of all receipts. All forfeitures or penalties paid to a violations bureau for violations of municipal ordinances shall be placed in the city general fund or such other fund as may be prescribed by ordinance. All forfeitures or penalties paid to a violations bureau for violations of state laws or county resolutions shall be remitted at least monthly to the county treasurer for deposit in the current expense fund. Employees of violations bureaus of a city shall be city employees under any applicable municipal civil service system. A violations bureau may be established by any city or district court having jurisdiction of traffic cases to assist in processing traffic cases. As designated by written order of the court having jurisdiction of traffic cases, specific offenses under city ordinance, county resolution, or state law may be processed by such bureau. Such bureau may be authorized to receive the posting of bail for such specified offenses, and, as authorized by the court order, to accept forfeiture of bail and payment of monetary penalties. The court order shall specify the amount of bail to be posted and shall also specify the circumstances or conditions which will require an appearance before the court. Such bureau, upon accepting the prescribed bail, shall issue a receipt to the alleged violator, which receipt shall bear a legend informing him or her of the legal consequences of bail forfeiture. The bureau shall transfer daily to the clerk of the proper department of the court all bail posted for offenses where forfeiture is not authorized by the court order, as well as copies of all receipts. All forfeitures or penalties paid to a violations bureau for violations of municipal ordinances shall be placed in the city general fund or such other fund as may be prescribed by ordinance. All forfeitures or penalties paid to a violations bureau for violations of state laws or county resolutions shall be remitted at least monthly to the county treasurer for deposit in the current expense fund. Employees of violations bureaus of a city shall be city employees under any applicable municipal civil service system.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=3.30&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026

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