King County (WA) Superior Court

In eight minutes, King County Clerk Barb Miner tells you why the Clerk's Office is the most important office you've probably never heard of. With 200 employees, reams of critical documents and even bloody knives, it's where you can find everyone's story.  

Not every youth who commits a crime goes before the black robe. That's state law. Instead, these youth are offered an opportunity to get back on track. For immigrant communities, our judicial system is very different from the one they experienced back home. So King County Juvenile Court partners with many organizations to educate and it works. One program in particular - Community Accountability Boards - is making a difference for the entire family. 

To keep kids out of the juvenile justice system, or at least keep them from coming back after they've been held accountable for what they did, it really does take a village. This week KIRO Radio's Hanna Scott takes in in-depth look at the all the people who participate along the way. Whether that person is a cop on the street to a black robe in the courtroom or the many stops in-between.  Episode 1: the first touch with the CJ system. 

King County Superior Court is exploring a new project: out-of-custody appearances via video. Not for everyone...but it could work for some. Learn more about where we are on this innovative idea. 

Because we so rarely go to court, it's not surprising that people freely admit they don't know the difference between Superior, District and Municipal Courts. In 6 minutes, we can change that! Take a listen. 

The court's bench is becoming more diverse. We have three judges fluent in Spanish. One is Judge Michael Diaz. His story and his passion for Juvenile Court is the subject of our the latest installment of "15 Minutes with...." Prefer video? Check out his on camera version.

If you ask Judge Tanya Thorp what she wishes everyone knew about Family Court, she's quick to answer: we have so many services available. And when 76% of the cases arrive with no or only one attorney, that's really important. Learn more about Family Court in this 9 minute podcast.   

How do you get people to show up to court? Sounds simple - you make them! Put them in jail if they don't! It's not that easy. The issues are deeper than that and far, far more complex. A new court pilot project comes online in January 2020 designed to address those deeper issues and create lasting solutions. Judge Bill Bowman explains what the South County Pre-Trial Services Pilot project is, who it helps and how it works. It's 17 minutes long and really interesting.   

It started as a typical day with drug court clients sitting outside the King County Courthouse (Seattle) 9th floor courtroom, waiting for the doors to open. From the inside, Drug Court employee Yuka Hayashi heard a knock. Here's what happened when she answered.   

In the weeks since KOMO TV aired the "Seattle is Dying" show, the issues of the homeless, addiction, mental health, chronic offenders and the role of the court has come under intense scrutiny. On Monday, April 8, Judge Johanna Bender from the Maleng Regional Justice Center and Judge Veronica Alice-Galvan in Seattle sat down with KIRO's Hanna Scott to clarify the role the court plays in this issue. It's 8 minutes long and informative. This was their second appearance in four days. The first was on KUOW's The Record on Thursday, April 4. 

Judge Judith Ramseyer goes into detail about what she likes about the new Children and Family Justice Center set to open at 12th and Alder in about 6 months and how it reflects the changing approach to Juvenile Justice. She also shares the unexpected skill she's most proud of.. well, maybe not MOST proud of, but still... it's pretty funny.  

Not only is he the tallest judge in Washington, he used to be a speech writer at Boeing. Now he presides over the busiest courtroom in Washington State. Every day, sometimes every five minutes, he makes custody and release decisions that impact defendants and our community. Judge Sean O'Donnell's story. 

What would you do? The teenager standing before you is charged with pointing a loaded weapon at a classmate. But he's spent the last year trying to move on in all the right ways. It's a decision our Juvenile Court Judges wrestle with every day. Judge Ramseyer, Chief Juvenile Court Judge, shares the story and her thought process. 

In eight minutes, King County Clerk Barb Miner tells you why the Clerk's Office is the most important office you've probably never heard of. With 200 employees, reams of critical documents and even bloody knives, it's where you can find everyone's story.  

Want your day in court? Wait til you hear the numbers our clerk has to share! 

Judge Linde answers the questions: what is her most memorable experience? Has she cried on the bench? Did she take court home with her? What does she wish the public knew? How does she feel about diversity and our jury pool? What's the Bench/Bar/Press? What's changed in 20 years (women can wear pants!). It's a great, comprehensive look back at an interesting, thoughtful judicial career.  

King County Superior Court Judge Laura Inveen has been on the bench for 26 years and spent the last two years as Presiding Judge. We talk to her about what a "PJ" does and how she works with 52 co-equal colleagues. 

That picture isn't what you expected is it? A sponsor wrapping a First Nations woman in a blanket. That is what makes King County's internationally recognized Drug Court different. Judge Dean Lum explains how it works, why it works and why it's the best job he's ever had.