Ellensburg Municipal Court Attorney

Ellensburg Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, gross misdemeanors, and traffic infractions that occur within the city limits of Ellensburg. The City of Ellensburg doesn’t run its own separate courthouse for this — it contracts with Lower Kittitas District Court to hear its city court docket, so “Ellensburg Municipal Court” cases are actually heard at the county courthouse. If you have been cited or charged with an offense in Ellensburg city limits, this is likely the court where your case will be heard.


Tony Swartz practices criminal defense in Ellensburg Municipal Court regularly. His office is located in Ellensburg — this is his home court.


Call (509) 293-7593 for a free consultation.


What Ellensburg Municipal Court Handles

Ellensburg Municipal Court has jurisdiction over:

  • Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors occurring within Ellensburg city limits — including DUI, domestic violence, assault, theft, criminal trespass, and malicious mischief
  • Traffic infractions — speeding tickets, cell phone violations, failure to yield, and other moving violations
  • Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) — one of the most common charges heard in Ellensburg Municipal Court
  • Minor in Possession (MIP) — common charges involving CWU students


Criminal Cases in Ellensburg

If you are charged with a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor in Ellensburg, your case will be handled on Ellensburg’s city court docket at Lower Kittitas District Court, typically before Judge Paul Sander (or a pro tem judge). The City of Ellensburg prosecutes these cases through the County Prosecutor’s office.


Tony Swartz represents clients charged with all misdemeanor-level offenses in Ellensburg Municipal Court. He attends arraignments, pre-trial conferences, and hearings regularly and has an established working relationship with the court and prosecuting attorneys.


DUI in Ellensburg

DUI arrests within Ellensburg city limits are prosecuted on the city’s docket at Lower Kittitas District Court — the same courthouse that hears county DUI cases, since Ellensburg contracts with the county court rather than running its own.


If you were arrested for DUI in Ellensburg, you also have 7 days from the date of arrest to request a DOL hearing — regardless of where the criminal case is pending.


Tony Swartz handles DUI defense in Ellensburg Municipal Court and represents clients at DOL hearings as part of every DUI case.


Traffic Tickets and Infractions

Traffic infractions in Ellensburg can be contested at a contested hearing before the court. You can also request a mitigation hearing to explain circumstances and potentially reduce the fine — though a mitigation hearing results in a finding of committed, which will appear on your record.


For moving violations that could affect your insurance or your license, contesting the ticket (not mitigating it) is usually the right approach. Tony Swartz handles traffic infraction defense in Ellensburg Municipal Court.


Court Information

Lower Kittitas District Court
205 W 5th Ave, Suite 180
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-7511


Ellensburg’s city court docket is typically calendared on Wednesdays before Judge Paul Sander. Check with the court or your attorney for your specific hearing date.


Local Representation Matters

Tony Swartz lives and works in Ellensburg. He is not traveling from Spokane or Seattle to appear in Ellensburg Municipal Court — this is his home court. That local presence means he knows the prosecutors, the judge, and the tendencies of this particular court.


Call (509) 293-7593 for a free consultation. Tony Swartz represents clients in Ellensburg Municipal Court, Kittitas County District Court, and courts throughout Yakima County.