COVID-19 Response

Washington Supreme Court Order Regarding Court Operations During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

The Washington Supreme Court has issued a new Order concerning emergency measures put in place for safe court operations during the COVID pandemic. The new Order rescinds many of those measures effective November 1, 2022. Some measures have been extended pending further review, however, such as authorizations for remote hearings and electronic signatures. Decisions on each measure were made with input from the Superior Court Judges' Association, the District and Municipal Court Judges' Association, additional justice system stakeholders, and in consultation with the work of the Board for Judicial Administration's Court Recovery Task Force.

On February 19, 2021, the Washington Supreme Court issued a fifth revised and extended order related to court operations in Washington during the COVID-19 public health emergency to provide direction for modifying court operations to avoid risk to litigants, lawyers, court staff and the public.

Washington courts have remained open and operating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but as with other essential services, the judicial branch has taken emergency measures to protect public safety while also maintaining public access to key justice services. This has resulted in many courts conducting operations through alternative means, in alternative settings, and with extra safety steps.

A coordinated, safe response to the pandemic by courts and justice partners has also required adjustments to standard timeframes and processes in many cases, such as those involving dependency, mental health, failures to appear, bench warrants, and many more. The authority for those adjustments is granted through operational orders issued by the Washington State Supreme Court. The Court's orders have been crafted with a great deal of input from courts and justice partners, who have been working hard to respond to the health emergency. The orders involving adjustments to Washington court operations began on March 4, 2020 and have continued to be issued as needed.

Transparency of court operations is a critical requirement for the judicial branch. In addition to compiling detailed operational orders since the beginning of the public health emergency, this page includes a link to a new Virtual Court Directory that guides the public to remote court hearings accessible through online platforms, and includes links to pages for court closures and modifications of hours, links to open court guidelines during the health emergency, and many other informational and resource links.

The Temple of Justice building in Olympia remains closed to the public until further notice, however essential work continues at the Supreme Court, Clerk's Office and State Law Library.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing challenge for courts that requires flexibility and openness to new processes for both court staff and court users. Court professionals and justice system partners are working every day to meet this challenge. Their hard work, collaboration and innovative spirit have been essential to meeting the justice needs of the people of Washington during this difficult time.


MESSAGE FROM CHIEF JUSTICE STEVEN C. GONZÁLEZ

SUPREME COURT ORDERS

Find the latest Supreme Court orders
related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

EL NUEVO VIRUS CORONA

En respuesta a la nueva pandemia de coronavirus (o COVID-19), nuestros
servicios estarán limitados
.



NOVEL CORONAVIRUS

In response to the novel coronavirus (or COVID-19) pandemic, services are currently limited.



 

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