Court Commissioners

Court Commissioners preside over various divisions such as Civil, Juvenile, Civil Mental Health, Adoptions, and Criminal. Listing of current Court Commissioners.
 

Civil - Commissioners hear and decide a variety of civil matters in Divisions A, B, C, D, Ex Parte, and Civil Protection. The type of cases scheduled and heard are listed on the division calendar.


Access the Division Calendars

For details regarding procedure, including the MANDATORY use of the Family Law and Civil Information Forms and submission of proposed orders, see PCLR 7, and PCLSPRs 94.04, 98.04, 98.16W, 98.18, and 98.20.    (LINK to Local Rules)  

Adoptions & Juvenile Court

Commissioners hear and decide matters involving juveniles, including criminal, dependency, truancy, at-risk-youth, emancipations, and finalization of adoptions.  For more information regarding Adoption and Juvenile Court dockets, please visit the Juvenile Court Website. See the Juvenile Court Website Pierce County Juvenile Court.

Civil Behavioral Health ITA

Commissioners hear matters relating to the involuntary commitment, treatment, Joel's Law Petitions, and release of individuals alleged to be suffering from mental health disorder.  See also: the Protocols for Less Restrictive Alternative Orders. Protocols for Less Restrictive Alternative Orders.

See also forms and instructions for the Joel's Law Petitions on the Washington Courts web page. 

Criminal

The Criminal Court Commissioner presides over hearings related to criminal offenses, including arraignments, omnibus hearings, pleas and other matters, but not sentencings (unless stipulated by both parties) or criminal jury trials.  The Criminal Court Commissioner is located in the Criminal Division 2, Courtroom 270 on the second floor of the County City Building. 

Commissioner Calendars by Division

All hearings that are docketed for the 9:00 am Show Cause Calendar must be confirmed by the party setting the hearing by noon, two court days prior to the scheduled hearing date.  All other hearings scheduled before the commissioners do not have to be confirmed.  Commissioner Calendar by Division 

How to Schedule Proceedings

Scheduling Hearings on Commissioners’ Dockets
Motions heard on both the morning and afternoon Commissioner dockets at the County City Building (other than civil protection order and involuntary treatment hearings) must be docketed using the Note for Commissioner’s Calendar which shall be electronically filed through LINX.  Use the drop down menu and select the correct hearing type, date, and time.  You MUST file the Motion the same time as the Note for Comissioner's Calendar.

Scheduling Hearings in the Ex Parte Department

Ex Parte matters are scheduled by calling the Commissioner Services Department at (253) 798-6890 or by emailing [email protected]. 24-hour notice must be provided to the opposing party (as well as a copy of the motion and any other supporting documentation) unless waived by the Commissioner. All Ex Parte hearings will be conducted via ZOOM. The ZOOM invitation is sent out by court staff the morning of the hearing. 

The moving party must provide the court with the names and dates of birth for all adults in either household, as well as email addresses for those that will be appearing via ZOOM. No Ex Parte Matters will be scheduled after 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM. the moving party will [email protected] the proposed Order for Immediate Restraining Order to Commissioner Services Department and upload the Motion for Immediate Restraining Order to Ex Parte, and all supporting documents to the case file in LINX.