Washington State Courts
Emergency Information - Courts

A Washington State court may be closed if weather, technological failure or other hazardous or emergency conditions or events are or become such that the safety and welfare of the employees are threatened or the court is unable to operate or demands immediate action to protect the court, its employees or property. These types of court closures are authorized by a general court rule (General Rule 21 on Emergency Court Closure). General court rules are approved by the Washington State Supreme Court and apply to state courts at all levels (Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Courts, District Courts, and Municipal Courts). The general court rules do not apply to federal courts in Washington State (U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court, and U.S. Bankruptcy Court).

The Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court, the presiding judge of a state court, or another judge designated by the impacted court may order a court closure as described in the court rule. The judge who directs the closure of a court must sign an administrative order to close the court and must file the order with the clerk of the impacted court.

The judge who directs the closure of a court or the judge's designee must also notify the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The AOC is a state agency in the judicial branch; the agency is a department of the Washington State Supreme Court. The AOC provides numerous services to state courts.

The AOC maintains the Washington Courts Web site (http://www.courts.wa.gov). Once the AOC hears of a court closure from the presiding judge or the judge's designee, the AOC posts a notice of the court closure on the Washington Courts Web site. The AOC also posts any additional information about the length of the closure if the court provides the information to the AOC.

While court closures are posted on the Washington Courts Web site as soon as the closures are reported to the AOC, citizens are encouraged to contact local courts directly by telephone or by visiting local courts' Web sites for the latest court closure information. Contact information for state courts is available in the Washington Court Directory at (http://www.courts.wa.gov/court_dir/).

10/31/2024 - Court closures have been reported for the following:

There are no closures being reported at this time.

Please contact a local court directly by telephone or visit the court's Web site for the latest court closure information. Contact information for state courts is available in the Washington Court Directory at (http://www.courts.wa.gov).