About the Court

Phone Number: (206) 684-5600
Location: 600 5th Ave (between Cherry & James)
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The Municipal Court of Seattle is the largest Limited Jurisdiction Court in the State of Washington with eight elected Judges and five appointed Magistrates. The Court adjudicates all misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes, infractions, and civil violations authorized under the Seattle Municipal Code and certain Revised Code of Washington Statutes.

Misdemeanors are crimes where the maximum sentence is 90 days in jail and $1,000 fine. Gross misdemeanors are such crimes that carry a maximum sentence of a year in jail and a $5,000 fine, including offenses such as driving under the influence, domestic violence, theft, and trespass. Infractions are acts which are prohibited by law but are not legally defined as a crime; such as parking citations and traffic or non-traffic infractions. Civil offenses are heard by the Court when the City of Seattle seeks enforcement of its fire code, housing, and City ordinance violations.

Community Involved Justice

The Municipal Court of Seattle has long considered itself the peoples' court. Through Community Involved Justice initiatives, the Court strives to make the justice system more effective by re-establishing links between criminal justice service providers and the communities it serves. This means taking a proactive approach toward meaningful broad-based services integration with respect to all who are involved with public safety.

Community Involved Justice initiatives ultimately seeks to transform the way people think about crime - not just as cases to be processed but as problems to be resolved and relationships to be developed and maintained.

Guide To The Court

Find out more about us before you visit. Read our Guide To The Court (PDF).

Mission Statement

The Municipal Court of Seattle is committed to excellence in providing fair, accessible, and timely resolution of alleged violations of the Seattle Municipal Code in an atmosphere of respect for the public, employees, and other government agencies.

The Municipal Court of Seattle values and recognizes its employees.

The Municipal Court of Seattle is a contributing partner working toward a safe and vital community.

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