Commissioners Court Docket updates for April and May

Show Cause Blitz May 2019

Judge Whitener Honored as 2019 Woman of the Year

On March 27, Judge G. Helen Whitener received the Seattle University School of Law and the Women’s Law Caucus 2019 Woman of the Year Award.  The award was presented to Judge Whitener for recognition of her distinguished legal career.  A ...

Summary of 2019 Local Rule Change Proposals

We are soliciting input and comment from the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association.  We request all comments to be submitted by not later than May 3, 2019.  Comments may be submitted to Judge Tim Ashcraft: SUPCRTDEPT2@PierceCountyWa.gov&a...

Superior Court Commissioner Meagan Foley retires

Pierce County Superior Court is announcing the retirement of Court Commissioner Meagan Foley from the bench after more than 30 years. Commissioner Foley’s last day is today, Jan. 18, 2019. She is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound School of Law w...

New Commissioner Hired - Starts January 14th, 2019

Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that Clarence Henderson, Jr. has accepted an offer to become our newest Commissioner, starting January 14, 2019. Mr. Henderson will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Commissioner Meagan Foley on...

Superior Court invites public to the Pierce County Courthouse mural reveal party

On Thursday, Nov. 29, Pierce County Superior Court will hold a reveal party for the latest installment of the Court History Project. 

Phase 2 involves the installation of a five-panel mural which showcases each of the four courthouses Superior Cou...

Judge G. Helen Whitener recipient of the Pierce County Washington Women Lawyers Woman of the Year.

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/73909/10-11-18-Press-Release---Whitener-final

Judge Stephanie Arend recipient of the William Nevins award

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/73690/JUDGE-STEPHANIE-AREND-RECIPIENT-OF-THE-WILLIAM-NEVINS-AWARD

Judge Susan Serko honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Western Washington

Judge Susan Serko honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Western Washington.

During a luncheon at Hotel Murano on Thursday, April 19^th, Judge Susan Serko will be awarded the 2018 Women of Distinction Award by the Girl Scouts of Western Was...

Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Anti-Harassment Orders Pamphlet

This pamphlet defines the orders and lists the criteria to obtain an order. Click HERE to view or download the pamphlet

Jury duty scams on the rise

Jury coordinators in Pierce County have received several reports this week of scammers working the phones to trick residents into believing they owe a fine for missing jury duty. Here’s what to look out for: An unsuspecting person receives a call informin...

Judge Tollefson announces retirement from Superior Court

Judge Brian Tollefson, Pierce County Superior Court’s most senior judge has announced his retirement effective May 31, 2016. Judge Tollefson was elected to Superior Court in 1988 and has served continuously in that position without opposition fo...

Gaddis named new Pierce County Court Administrator

Pierce County Superior Court today announced Chris Gaddis as its newest Court Administrator. He will begin his new role on May 2, 2016.

Gaddis has had a 23-year career in law enforcement and has been the Chief of Police for the City of Normandy Park si...Read on...

Inslee announces appointment of Michael Schwartz to the Pierce County Superior Court

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced he is appointing Michael Schwartz to the Pierce County Superior Court. Schwartz serves as a sole practitioner, handling complex felony and civil litigation in both state and federal courts. He has operated his own private l...Read on...

Pierce County Superior Court to host national jury management seminar

Jury administrators from around the nation are coming to Pierce County this month for a three-day advanced training seminar.

The Virginia-based National Center for State Courts selected Pierce County’s Jury Administration Office as the host after worki...Read on...

New translated forms will aid in Pierce County Superior Court functions

Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce several criminal case forms commonly used in court have been translated into Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The court expects a significant portion of the public with limited English language ...Read on...

Inslee announces appointment of G. Helen Whitener to Pierce County Superior Court

Gov. Jay Inslee announced that he is appointing G. Helen Whitener to Pierce County Superior Court. Whitener is replacing Judge John McCarthy who is retiring after serving 18 years on the bench.

Whitener, who is originally from Trinidad and moved to the...Read on...

Superior Court adds remote video appearances through CourtCall

Attorneys and litigants now have the ability to appear remotely before Pierce County Superior Court through CourtCall Video, a private service that saves time and travel-related costs.

Superior Court began using the video service this month for approve...Read on...

Gov. Inslee announces appointment of Gretchen Leanderson to Pierce County Superior Court

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that he is appointing Gretchen Leanderson to Pierce County Superior Court. Leanderson has served in the Washington State Office of the Attorney General since 1988 where she is currently the Division Chief of the A...Read on...

Pierce County Drug Court celebrates 20-year anniversary

On Oct. 21, Pierce County Drug court will celebrate its 20th anniversary, marking the occasion with an awards ceremony and presentation followed by several guest speakers. Judge Edmund Murphy of Superior Court Department 9 will present a historic perspect...Read on...

Pierce County Council says “thanks” to those called for jury duty

The Pierce County Council has designated the week of May 19-23 as “Juror Appreciation Week.”

Resolution 2014-55, unanimously approved on Tuesday, May 13, points to the right to trial by a jury of one’s peers as an important and unique part of the American ...Read on...

Pierce County Drug Court could serve as model for Korean program

Twenty delegates from South Korea will tour Pierce County’s Felony Drug Court from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, to learn more about the local system for dealing with drug offenders.

Pierce County’s Felony Drug Court program started in 1994 and is the se...Read on...

Public invited to Phil Sorensen's swearing-in as Superior Court judge

The public is invited as Phil Sorensen is sworn in as a Pierce County Superior Court judge on Thursday, April 3.

The ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. in Courtroom 100 of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave S. A reception will follow.

Sorensen wa...Read on...

Judge Kitty-Ann van Doorninck earns state judicial award

Pierce County Superior Court Judge Kitty-Ann van Doorninck was honored by the state’s judiciary for outstanding contributions to youth and public education concerning the legal system.

Judge van Doorninck was awarded the Washington Judges’ Foundation 2...Read on...

Giving thanks for jurors who make important decisions in our community

Several hundred Pierce County residents who were summoned to jury duty got special attention this week.

The Pierce County Council joined Gov. Jay Inslee in proclaiming May 6-10 as “Juror Appreciation Week” to commend citizens for performing an importan...Read on...

Craig Adams, Meagan Foley appointed to Court Commissioner posts

Craig Adams, the longtime legal advisor to the Pierce County sheriff, has been appointed as a Superior Court Commissioner.

The appointment marks a return to the bench for Adams, who served as a Court Commissioner for two years during a career that incl...Read on...

3 Superior Court judges to be sworn in Jan. 4

Three newly elected Pierce County Superior Court judges will have their joint swearing-in ceremony on Friday, Jan. 4.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, will be held at 4 p.m. in Courtroom 100 of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave. S. A r...Read on...