About Superior Court

In addition to providing general administrative support to the Court, the Superior Court Administrator's Office implements court policies and procedures, manages the jury system, schedules cases, and prepares and administers the court budget.

Spokane County Superior Court is one of 39 Superior Courts in Washington. There is one Superior Court serving each county, although some smaller counties have been combined to form 31 judicial districts. Spokane County has 12 Superior Court Judges elected to 4-year terms. In addition to certain special assignments, Spokane County Superior Court Judges and Commissioners hear and decide cases assigned to them by the Presiding Judge.
Nighttime Photo of Spokane County Superior Court

Judges

Each Judge employs a judicial assistant who manages the Judge's caseload, maintains order in the courtroom, supervises jurors, and coordinates courtroom activities. Each Judge employs a court reporter to make a verbatim record of court proceedings. If a particular case is appealed, this record is transcribed for reference on appeal. A courtroom clerk assigned to each court keeps a journal of the proceedings and processes exhibits.

Presiding Judge

The Presiding Judge is elected by the other Superior Court Judges to serve not less than 2 years. The Presiding Judge supervises the judicial business of the Superior Court, assigns cases to the trial departments, acts as the spokesperson for the court, directs the court administrator in implementing administrative and general court policy, and performs judicial and administrative duties as set forth in General Rule 29. Judges serve as Chief Criminal Judge, Juvenile Court Judge, Family Law Judge and Drug Court Judge on a rotation basis as appointed by the Presiding Judge.

Chief Criminal Judge

The Chief Criminal Judge presides over first appearances, arraignments, motions, status and pretrial conferences. The Juvenile Court Judge is responsible for the operation of the Juvenile Court and manages the Juvenile caseload and the Juvenile Drug Court. Two Family Law Judges hear family court matters and manage assigned caseloads. One Plea Judge presides over guilty plea and sentencing hearings.

Therapeutic Courts Judge

The Therapeutic Courts Judge is responsible for the Spokane County Behavioral Health Adult Felony Therapeutic Courts including Drug Court, Felony Mental Health Court, and Co-Occurring Disorders docket. The remaining Judges function as trial departments managing assigned caseloads and presiding over all types of cases. All of the Judges and Court Commissioners meet regularly to set administrative and general court policy.

Court Commissioners

Eight Court Commissioners are appointed by the Superior Court Judges. Spokane County's Court Commissioners have some of the same powers and duties of the Judges and sit as Judges pro tempore if all parties agree to have their case heard by a Commissioner. The Court Commissioners are assigned certain ex parte, domestic, juvenile and mental illness proceedings.  The Criminal Court Commissioner hears the First Appearance docket.  Court Commissioners do not handle jury trials.