Caseloads of the Courts of Washington
Superior Court
Court Activity Trends by Type of Case - 2019 to 2023
| |
2019 |
2020 |
% Chg (1) |
2021 |
% Chg (1) |
2022 |
% Chg (1) |
2023 |
% Chg (1) |
|
|
| Filings |
| Criminal (2) |
39,614 |
31,867 |
-19.6 % |
26,526 |
-16.8 % |
28,121 |
6 % |
28,360 |
0.8 % |
| Civil (3) |
79,052 |
44,651 |
-43.5 % |
45,062 |
0.9 % |
58,773 |
30.4 % |
68,292 |
16.2 % |
| Domestic/UIFSA |
30,147 |
25,810 |
-14.4 % |
26,397 |
2.3 % |
24,360 |
-7.7 % |
24,947 |
2.4 % |
| Probate |
15,307 |
14,822 |
-3.2 % |
16,827 |
13.5 % |
18,337 |
9 % |
17,867 |
-2.6 % |
| Guardianship (11) |
2,076 |
1,970 |
-5.1 % |
3,991 |
102.6 % |
3,987 |
-0.1 % |
3,974 |
-0.3 % |
| Adoption/Parentage (4)(5) |
5,203 |
4,128 |
-20.7 % |
3,992 |
-3.3 % |
3,584 |
-10.2 % |
3,479 |
-2.9 % |
| Mental Illness |
10,001 |
11,190 |
11.9 % |
11,355 |
1.5 % |
11,105 |
-2.2 % |
11,489 |
3.5 % |
| Juvenile Dependency |
17,341 |
8,968 |
-48.3 % |
7,667 |
-14.5 % |
10,887 |
42 % |
10,921 |
0.3 % |
| Juvenile Offender (2) |
7,331 |
5,133 |
-30 % |
3,236 |
-37 % |
4,091 |
26.4 % |
5,430 |
32.7 % |
| Total Filings |
206,072 |
148,539 |
-27.9 % |
145,053 |
-2.3 % |
163,245 |
12.5 % |
174,759 |
7.1 % |
|
|
| Resolutions (6) |
| Criminal (2) |
37,149 |
26,807 |
-27.8 % |
28,853 |
7.6 % |
25,818 |
-10.5 % |
27,771 |
7.6 % |
| Civil (3) |
74,525 |
43,482 |
-41.7 % |
42,105 |
-3.2 % |
51,907 |
23.3 % |
62,092 |
19.6 % |
| Domestic/UIFSA |
26,933 |
26,331 |
-2.2 % |
25,284 |
-4 % |
24,653 |
-2.5 % |
23,916 |
-3 % |
| Probate |
13,346 |
13,590 |
1.8 % |
14,817 |
9 % |
14,492 |
-2.2 % |
20,087 |
38.6 % |
| Guardianship (11) |
1,662 |
1,622 |
-2.4 % |
2,647 |
63.2 % |
2,705 |
2.2 % |
3,204 |
18.4 % |
| Adoption/Parentage (4)(5) |
4,737 |
3,894 |
-17.8 % |
3,762 |
-3.4 % |
3,299 |
-12.3 % |
3,497 |
6 % |
| Mental Illness |
9,181 |
10,217 |
11.3 % |
9,398 |
-8 % |
8,474 |
-9.8 % |
9,923 |
17.1 % |
| Juvenile Dependency |
14,135 |
11,900 |
-15.8 % |
8,157 |
-31.5 % |
6,889 |
-15.5 % |
9,352 |
35.8 % |
| Juvenile Offender (2) |
6,606 |
5,336 |
-19.2 % |
3,613 |
-32.3 % |
3,702 |
2.5 % |
4,621 |
24.8 % |
| Total Resolutions |
188,274 |
143,179 |
-24 % |
138,636 |
-3.2 % |
141,939 |
2.4 % |
164,463 |
15.9 % |
|
|
| Completions (7) |
| Criminal (2) |
37,053 |
27,450 |
-25.9 % |
29,712 |
8.2 % |
26,160 |
-12 % |
28,423 |
8.7 % |
| Civil (3) |
73,121 |
42,716 |
-41.6 % |
41,364 |
-3.2 % |
51,951 |
25.6 % |
61,358 |
18.1 % |
| Domestic/UIFSA |
26,858 |
26,643 |
-0.8 % |
25,716 |
-3.5 % |
24,455 |
-4.9 % |
24,190 |
-1.1 % |
| Probate |
10,433 |
10,438 |
0 % |
11,093 |
6.3 % |
11,723 |
5.7 % |
16,998 |
45 % |
| Guardianship (11) |
1,398 |
1,404 |
0.4 % |
2,154 |
53.4 % |
2,396 |
11.2 % |
2,853 |
19.1 % |
| Adoption/Parentage (4)(5) |
4,744 |
3,874 |
-18.3 % |
3,765 |
-2.8 % |
3,271 |
-13.1 % |
3,610 |
10.4 % |
| Mental Illness |
8,034 |
9,950 |
23.8 % |
8,421 |
-15.4 % |
7,383 |
-12.3 % |
9,003 |
21.9 % |
| Juvenile Dependency |
14,185 |
12,520 |
-11.7 % |
8,243 |
-34.2 % |
6,919 |
-16.1 % |
9,464 |
36.8 % |
| Juvenile Offender (2) |
6,891 |
5,558 |
-19.3 % |
3,762 |
-32.3 % |
3,713 |
-1.3 % |
4,495 |
21.1 % |
| Total Completions |
182,717 |
140,553 |
-23.1 % |
134,230 |
-4.5 % |
137,971 |
2.8 % |
160,394 |
16.3 % |
|
|
| Non-Trial Proceedings (10) |
| Criminal (2) |
290,184 |
213,469 |
-26.4 % |
197,678 |
-7.4 % |
215,011 |
8.8 % |
225,688 |
5 % |
| Civil (3) |
34,611 |
27,729 |
-19.9 % |
30,794 |
11.1 % |
38,142 |
23.9 % |
48,157 |
26.3 % |
| Domestic/UIFSA |
69,287 |
47,987 |
-30.7 % |
52,846 |
10.1 % |
52,918 |
0.1 % |
53,793 |
1.7 % |
| Probate |
2,635 |
2,374 |
-9.9 % |
3,149 |
32.6 % |
3,316 |
5.3 % |
3,390 |
2.2 % |
| Guardianship (11) |
7,605 |
5,476 |
-28 % |
9,951 |
81.7 % |
12,616 |
26.8 % |
12,325 |
-2.3 % |
| Adoption/Parentage (4)(5) |
8,187 |
5,529 |
-32.5 % |
5,951 |
7.6 % |
5,674 |
-4.7 % |
4,911 |
-13.4 % |
| Mental Illness |
12,591 |
13,784 |
9.5 % |
11,192 |
-18.8 % |
7,920 |
-29.2 % |
6,645 |
-16.1 % |
| Juvenile Dependency |
78,743 |
54,905 |
-30.3 % |
54,618 |
-0.5 % |
53,482 |
-2.1 % |
49,840 |
-6.8 % |
| Juvenile Offender (2) |
47,539 |
33,761 |
-29 % |
26,129 |
-22.6 % |
27,886 |
6.7 % |
35,093 |
25.8 % |
| Total Non-Trial Proceedings |
551,382 |
405,014 |
-26.5 % |
392,308 |
-3.1 % |
416,965 |
6.3 % |
439,842 |
5.5 % |
|
|
| Trial Proceedings (8),(10) |
| Criminal (2) |
1,290 |
732 |
-43.3 % |
689 |
-5.9 % |
764 |
10.9 % |
947 |
24 % |
| Civil (3) |
515 |
332 |
-35.5 % |
361 |
8.7 % |
451 |
24.9 % |
551 |
22.2 % |
| Domestic/UIFSA |
1,388 |
1,069 |
-23 % |
1,274 |
19.2 % |
1,138 |
-10.7 % |
1,315 |
15.6 % |
| Probate |
10 |
6 |
. % |
5 |
. % |
3 |
. % |
19 |
. % |
| Guardianship (11) |
21 |
15 |
. % |
43 |
. % |
97 |
125.6 % |
146 |
50.5 % |
| Adoption/Parentage (4)(5) |
129 |
124 |
-3.9 % |
102 |
-17.7 % |
101 |
-1 % |
98 |
-3 % |
| Mental Illness |
335 |
374 |
11.6 % |
293 |
-21.7 % |
242 |
-17.4 % |
246 |
1.7 % |
| Juvenile Offender (2) |
340 |
264 |
-22.4 % |
177 |
-33 % |
224 |
26.6 % |
233 |
4 % |
| Total Trial Proceedings |
4,028 |
2,916 |
-27.6 % |
2,944 |
1 % |
3,020 |
2.6 % |
3,555 |
17.7 % |
|
|
1 Percentages not shown when numbers are less than 30.
2 Criminal and Juvenile Offender data include counts on "non-charge matters."
3 Prior to 1992, the civil case type included data from the current model now shown as domestic relations, uniform interstate family support act (UIFSA), paternity causes of action, and confidential name changes for victims of domestic violence. Includes "matters filed with the clerk." Refer to the section titled "Caution Regarding Figures Published in Prior Years".
4 Adoption data include relinquishment, termination, and modification causes of action; these sealed cases also include confidential name changes for victims of domestic violence.
5 Adoption data include counts on "pre-placement reports."
6 Resolution signifies that a case has been tried, settled, or otherwise concluded. It occurs when a judicial decision has been rendered (regardless of whether a dispositive document has been filed with the clerk), or when a case has been transferred to another jurisdiction for subsequent adjudication. (For additional information see the Superior Court Glossary.)
7 Completion signifies that the dispositive documents for a case have been filed with the clerk for inclusion in the legal record. In some instances a case can be completed at the point of case resolution; however, a case can never be completed prior to resolution. (For additional information see the Superior Court Glossary.)
8 In addition to jury and non-jury trials, these figures include counts for trials by affidavit and stipulated trials.
9 Juvenile offender proceedings that involve adjudicatory hearings are counted as trials here.
10 Pierce County Superior Court case information is recorded in Legal Information Network Exchange (LINX). Case filings and resolutions are available in the Judicial Information System (JIS). Non-trial and trial proceedings listed above may be incomplete. LINX information is available on the Internet at https://linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us/linxweb/Main.cfm. For further information please contact the Pierce County Clerk by phone at 253-798-7455 or by e-mail at pcclerk@co.pierce.wa.us.
11 Effective 1/1/2023, Guardianship category includes: Minor Other Protective Arrangement (OPM), and Standby Minor Guardianship (SMG).
|
