Pierce County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Pierce County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Pierce County.
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.
Mandatory Appearances in Pierce County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Pierce County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.
Pierce County Criminal Court
Appealing a Criminal Conviciton
A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction to an appellate court. In an appeal, the actual trial is not redone, but the appellate court hears arguments that the criminal case was not handled in a legal manner at the original criminal court. The appellate court can either uphold the conviction, or determine that errors were made and may request a retrial, a resentencing of the defendant or that the charges be dismissed.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Pierce 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.
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.
Where will Pierce County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Pierce County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Pierce County.
I need help for my Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce 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.
Burden of Proof Requirement
In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pierce County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Pierce County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Pierce County. The Pierce County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.
Jury by Trial Right
The US Constitution (Article 3 along with the 6th Amendment) ensures an accused defendant the right to a jury trial. This applies to crimes that have a $500 fine or a potential sentence of six months in jail (aka Serious Crimes). This right to trial by jury can also be waived by a defendant.
Pierce County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Pierce County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Pierce County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Pierce County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.
What if I can’t afford an attorney?
The 6th Amendment guarantees you the right to an attorney whether or not you can afford one. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed by the court to represent you.
Pierce County Criminal Court Locations
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Pierce County Superior Court
Address: 930 Tacoma Avenue S, Room 110, Tacoma WA 98402
Phone: 253-798-7455 Fax: 253-798-3428 -
Pierce County Superior Court – Juvenile
Address: 5501 6th Avenue, Tacoma WA 98406
Phone: 253-798-7900 Fax: 253-798-7649 -
Pierce County District Court
Address: 930 Tacoma Avenue S, Room 239, Tacoma WA 98402
Phone: 253-798-7487 Fax: 253-798-6616 -
Bonney Lake Municipal Court
Address: 9002 Main Street E, Suite 100, Bonney Lake WA 98391
Phone: 253-862-6606 Fax: 253-862-3053 -
Buckley Municipal Court
Address: 811 Main Street, PO Box 1452, Buckley WA 98321
Phone: 360-829-2118 Fax: 360-234-0994 -
Carbonado Municipal Court
Address: 811 Main Street, PO Box 1452, Buckley WA 98321
Phone: 360-829-2118 Fax: 360-234-0994 -
DuPont Municipal Court
Address: 6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258 Fax: 253-512-2267 -
Eatonville Municipal Court
Address: 9002 Main Street E, Suite 100, Bonney Lake WA 98391
Phone: 253-862-6606 Fax: 253-862-3053 -
Fife Municipal Court
Address: 3737 Pacific Hwy E, Fife WA 98424
Phone: 253-922-6635 Fax: 253-926-5435 -
Fircrest Municipal Court
Address: 115 Ramsdell Street, Fircrest WA 98466
Phone: 253-564-8922 Fax: 253-564-3645 -
Gig Harbor Municipal Court
Address: 3510 Grandview Street, Gig Harbor WA 98335
Phone: 253-851-7808 Fax: 253-853-5483 -
Lakewood Municipal Court
Address: 6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258 Fax: 253-512-2267 -
Milton Municipal Court
Address: 929 E Main Street, Suite 120, Puyallup WA 98372
Phone: 253-841-5450 Fax: 253-770-3365 -
Orting Municipal Court
Address: 401 Washington Avenue SE, PO Box 489, Orting WA 98360
Phone: 360-893-3160 Fax: 888-491-2202 -
Puyallup Municipal Court
Address: 929 E Main Street, Suite 120, Puyallup WA 98372
Phone: 253-841-5450 Fax: 253-770-3365 -
Roy Municipal Court
Address: 216 McNaught Road S, PO Box 700, Roy WA 98580
Phone: 253-843-0463 Fax: 253-843-0279 -
Ruston Municipal Court
Address: 5117 N Winnifred Street, Ruston WA 98407
Phone: 253-759-8545 Fax: 253-752-3754 -
South Prairie Municipal Court
Address: 9002 Main Street E, Bonney Lake WA 98391
Phone: 253-862-6606 Fax: 253-862-3053 -
Steilacoom Municipal Court
Address: 6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258 Fax: 253-512-2267 -
Sumner Municipal Court
Address: 1104 Maple Street, Suite 100, Sumner WA 98390
Phone: 253-863-7635 Fax: 253-299-5629 -
Tacoma Municipal Court
Address: 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 841, Tacoma WA 98402
Phone: 253-591-5357 Fax: 253-573-2511 -
University Place Municipal Court
Address: 6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood WA 98499
Phone: 253-512-2258 Fax: 253-512-2267 -
Wilkeson Municipal Court
Address: 540 Church Street, PO Box 409, Wilkeson WA 98396
Phone: 360-829-0171 Fax: 360-829-0898