I am compiling a list of court closure orders and other related information on this page for client reference. It is important to check with me, or check with your attorney if I do not represent you, before you rely on this information. All virus-related closures are an extremely fluid process that change sometimes hourly or daily. Again, do not rely on information simply because you saw it online. Washington State Supreme CourtThe Washington State Supreme Court issued a sweeping State-wide order related to court process, continuances through at least April 24 2020 with some exceptions, speedy trial waiver orders, and more. It is highly recommended that you read the full 8 page order. It should be noted that the Supreme Court's order most likely trumps any conflicting language in trial court orders. However, most or all of the current local trial court orders EXPAND on the Supreme Court language rather than conflict it, so these orders likely act in concert with each other. Again, it is important to consult with an attorney on your exact situation. Kittitas County Superior CourtNo jury trials will be held until May 2020 and most hearings will be continued. This is a wide-sweeping order that covers all kinds of cases within Superior Court, including criminal, juvenile, and civil cases. As such, I recommend you read the order itself rather than a summary. Non-essential matters will likely not be heard until after at least May 3, 2020. Essential matters are recommended to be agreed and/or heard via telephone until at least May 4, 2020. Kittitas County Lower District Court (Ellensburg)The Court continued all hearings and trials until further notice. Infractions will be heard electronically or by writing. The Court Administrator summarized this order as follows:
Kittitas Country Upper District Court (Cle Elum)Most criminal hearings, including trials, are cancelled until further notice unless the matter is for a protection orders, domestic violence case or a DUI-related case. Infractions will be held via phone if an attorney is involved. The Court Administrator summarized this order as follows:
Again, it is really important that you check with me or another attorney before relying on the above information, as it may have changed since I posted this. I am going to do my best to update this information as things change, but I may not be able to do so immediately. Do not rely on it alone when making a decision as to what you should or shouldn’t do. That’s why we have attorneys.
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AuthorTony Swartz is an experienced lawyer in Washington State. He has handled, start to finish, over 10,000 criminal cases. He has also dealt with various types of civil cases, including administrative law hearings, Superior Court cases, District Court cases, and more. He also has advised clients in transactional matters spanning topics such as business law, nonprofit law, and property law. Archives
June 2020
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