King County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in King County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in King County.
Can I appeal a guilty verdict?
If found guilty, a defendant may decide to appeal his case to an appelate court. The appellate court will not retry the case, they will examine the proceedings in the lower court to make sure they were done in a legal manner. The appellate court can either uphold the original conviction, or determine that due to errors made in the original trial, that there must be a retrial, resentencing or a complete dismissal of the charges.
Defendant Sentencing
At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.
King County Criminal Court
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
King County Required Court Appearances
In King County, there are both required and non-required court appearances for the defendant. At a required or mandatory appearance hearing, the defendant is required to appear in person before the court. Failing to appear at your required hearing may result in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest by the judge.
King County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the King County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Right to an attorney
The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In King County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in King County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.
Arraignments in King County
During an arraignment in King County, a defendant appears before the court and the judge reads the charges that have been filed against the accused and also informs the defendant of his/her rights. During the arraignment in King County, the defendant can choose to plead one of the following 1) Guilty 2) Not Guilty or 3) No Contest. If the defendant enters a plea of Not Guilty, a date for trial is set. In the event of a Guilty or No Contest Plea in King County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.
Who is the prosecutor for King County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for King County criminal cases will either be a representative of King County or a representative from Washington. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.
I need help for my King County criminal case
The best place to get information about your criminal case is from an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to represent you which will assist in your case. For general information about your case the King County court clerk is able to provide general information about your specific case (e.g. date/time hearings, mandatory appearance, what will take place and what you will be required to do). The court clerk for King County will NOT be able to provide legal advice for your case, only an attorney can provide legal advice. The court clerk can provide legal information (like the information found on this website) about your case but cannot provide advice about what you should do in your legal manner.
What is a Plea Agreement?
A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.
What is the Burden of Proof?
The term “Burden of Proof” means that the prosecutor is required to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot provide proof of the defendants guilt, then the judge or jury in a trial must find the defendant not guilty. In the United States the principle innocent until proven guilty derives from this that the defendant is assumed innocent and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.
King County Criminal Court Locations
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King County Mental Illness Court
Address: 908 Jefferson Street, Seattle WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-4641 -
King County Superior Court
Address: 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-9300 -
King County Superior Court
Address: 401 4th Avenue N, Kent WA 98032
Phone: 206-296-9300 -
King County Superior Court – Juvenile
Address: 1211 E Alder Street, Seattle WA 98122
Phone: 206-205-9500 -
King County District Court East Division – Bellevue
Address: 585 112th Avenue SE, Bellevue WA 98004
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax: 206-296-0589 -
King County District Court East Division – Issaquah
Address: 5415 220th Avenue SE, Issaquah WA 98029
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax: 206-296-0591 -
King County District Court East Division – Redmond
Address: 8601 160th Avenue NE, Redmond WA 98052
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax: 206-296-0592 -
King County District Court South Division – Burien
Address: 601 SW 149th Street, Burien WA 98166
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax: 206-296-0124 -
King County District Court South Division – Auburn
Address: 340 E Main Street, Suite 101, Auburn WA 98002
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax: 206-296-0525 -
King County District Court South Division – Kent
Address: 401 N 4th Avenue, Kent WA 98032
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax: 206-205-8840 -
King County District Court West Division – Seattle
Address: 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle WA 98104
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax: 206-296-0910 -
King County District Court West Division – Shoreline
Address: 18050 Meridian Avenue N, Shoreline WA 98133
Phone: 206-205-9200 Fax:206-296-0594 -
Black Diamond Municipal Court
Address: 25510 Lawson Street, PO Box 599, Black Diamond WA 98010
Phone: 360-886-7784 Fax: 360-886-5354 -
Bothell Municipal Court
Address: 10116 NE 183rd Street, Bothell WA 98011
Phone: 425-487-5587 Fax: 425-488-3052 -
Clyde Hill Municipal Court
Address: 11740 NE 118th Street, PO Box 678, Kirkland WA 98083
Phone: 425-587-3160 Fax: 425-587-3161 -
Des Moines Municipal Court
Address: 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite C, Des Moines WA 98198
Phone: 206-878-4597 Fax: 206-870-4387 -
Enumclaw Municipal Court
Address: 1339 Griffin Avenue, Enumclaw WA 98022
Phone: 360-825-7771 Fax: 360-802-0107 -
Federal Way Municipal Court
Address: 33325 8th Avenue S, Federal Way WA 98003
Phone: 253-835-3000 Fax: 253-835-3020 -
Hunts Point Municipal Court
Address: 11740 NE 118th Street, PO Box 678, Kirkland WA 98083
Phone: 425-587-3160 Fax: 425-587-3161 -
Issaquah Municipal Court
Address: 135 E Sunset Way, PO Box 7005, Issaquah WA 98027
Phone: 425-837-3170 Fax: 425-837-3178 -
Kent Municipal Court
Address: 1220 Central Avenue S, Kent WA 98032
Phone: 253-856-5730 Fax: 253-856-6730 -
Kirkland Municipal Court
Address: 11740 NE 118th Street, PO Box 678, Kirkland WA 98083
Phone: 425-587-3160 Fax: 425-587-3161 -
Lake Forest Park Municipal Court
Address: 17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park WA 98155
Phone: 206-364-7711 Fax: 206-364-7712 -
Maple Valley Municipal Court
Address: 1220 Central Ave S, Kent WA 98032
Phone: 253-856-5730 Fax: 253-856-6730 -
Medina Municipal Court
Address: 11740 NE 118th Street, PO Box 678, Kirkland WA 98083
Phone: 425-587-3160 Fax: 425-587-3161 -
Mercer Island Municipal Court
Address: 9611 SE 36th Street, Mercer Island WA 98040
Phone: 206-275-7604 Fax: 206-275-7980 -
Municipal Court of Pacific and Algona
Address: 100 3rd Avenue SE, Pacific WA 98047
Phone: 253-929-1140 Fax: 253-929-1195 -
Newcastle Municipal Court
Address: 9611 SE 36th Street, Mercer Island WA 98040
Phone: 206-275-7604 Fax: 206-275-7980 -
Normandy Park Municipal Court
Address: 21630 11th Avenue S, Suite C, Des Moines WA 98198
Phone: 206-878-4597 Fax: 206-870-4387 -
North Bend Municipal Court
Address: 135 E Sunset Way, PO Box 7005, Issaquah WA 98027
Phone: 425-837-3170 Fax: 425-837-3178 -
Renton Municipal Court
Address: 1055 S Grady Way, Renton WA 98057
Phone: 425-430-6550 Fax: 425-430-6544 -
SeaTac Municipal Court
Address: 4800 S 188th Street, SeaTac WA 98188
Phone: 206-973-4610 Fax: 206-973-4629 -
Seattle Municipal Court
Address: 600 5th Avenue, PO Box 34987, Seattle WA 98124
Phone: 206-684-5600 Fax: 206-233-0056 -
Snoqualmie Municipal Court
Address: 135 E Sunset Way, PO Box 7005, Issaquah WA 98027
Phone: 425-837-3170 Fax: 425-837-3178 -
Tukwila Municipal Court
Address: 6200 Southcenter Blvd, Tukwila WA 98188
Phone: 206-433-1840 Fax: 206-433-7160 -
Yarrow Point Municipal Court
Address: 11740 NE 118th Street, PO Box 678, Kirkland WA 98083
Phone: 425-587-3160 Fax: 425-587-3161