Retirement of Judge Stephanie Arend

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, PIERCE COUNTY

PRESS RELEASE

September 15, 2021

JUDGE STEPHANIE A. AREND RETIREMENT

Pierce County Superior Court is announcing the retirement of Judge Stephanie A. Arend from the bench after 22 years. Judge Arend serv...

Gov. Inslee appoints two new Judges to Pierce County Superior Court

Emergency order 20-19 has been amended effective August 16, 2021

Emergency order 20-19 "PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDER REGARDING UNLAWFUL DETAINER ACTIONS AND THE EVICTION RESOLUTION PROGRAM (ERP)" has been amended.  Click HERE to view the latest order. Effective August 16, 2021 through June 30, 2023

Memorandum of Understanding: Appointment of Counsel for Indigent Defendants in Unlawful Detainers

Memorandum of Understanding:  Appointment of Counsel for Indigent Defendants in Unlawful Detainers.  Click HERE to view the document filed on August 17, 2021

SUPERIOR COURT MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES - Updated Aug. 2, 2021

The Pierce County Superior Court Executive Committee has updated the masking guidelines for staff and court participants.   COVID protocols have been developed in conjunction with court stakeholders, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, Labor ...

Electronically File Court Documents with Odyssey eFileWA

The Pierce County District Court is excited to announce a new way to electronically file court documents.  Coming in 2023, attorneys and self-represented litigants will be able to submit court documents through Odyssey eFileWA.  If you w...

Judge Penalver Appointed to the Newly Created 23rd Judicial Department

PRESS RELEASE

April 20, 2021

JUDGE PENALVER APPOINTED TO THE NEWLY CREATED 23^RD JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that Andre Penalver has been appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the newly created Department 23...

Pierce County District Court February 10, 2021 Inclement Weather Information

Jury Trials to Resume March 1, 2021

SUPERIOR COURT PRESS RELEASE

FEBRUARY 8, 2021

JURY TRIALS TO RESUME MARCH 1, 2021

Pierce County Superior Court confirms the resumption of all jury trials on March 1, 2021. With the dramatic drop in COVID positive cases, the move of Pierce County into Phase 2...

Two New Judges Sworn In

Superior Court of the State of Washington For Pierce County

January 11, 2021

TWO NEW JUDGES SWORN IN

Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that Diana L. Kiesel and Thomas P. Quinlan have been officially sworn in as judges. Both Judges ...

Retirement of Judge Jack Nevin

PRESS RELEASE

December 28, 2020

RETIREMENT OF JUDGE JACK NEVIN

Pierce County Superior Court is announcing the retirement of Judge Jack Nevin after more than 36 years serving the citizens of Pierce County. Judge Nevin’s last day will be December 31, 2020.

Judg...

Retirement of Judge Jerry Costello

PRESS RELEASE

December 28, 2020

RETIREMENT OF JUDGE JERRY COSTELLO

Pierce County Superior Court announces the retirement of Judge Jerry Costello at his completion of 32 years of public service, including the last 8 years on the bench. Judge Costello&rsqu...

Two new commissioners, Karen Watson and Ingrid McLeod, beginning in early 2021

TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS HIRED

Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that both Karen Watson and Ingrid McLeod have accepted offers to become our newest Commissioners starting in early 2021. Commissioner Watson will start on January 11, 2021, to ...

Pierce County District Court responds to COVID-19; Criminal and civil jury trials to be suspended

The Pierce County District Court is taking important steps to protect public health while ensuring continued access to justice and essential court services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Court facilities at the County-City Building will remain open but the...

November 15, 2020 COVID-19 Response

PIERCE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT PRESS RELEASE 

NOVEMBER 15, 2020 

COVID-19 Response 

Pierce County District Court will not modify court operations based on information provided by...

Judges Orlando and Nevin receive William O. Douglas Award

Pierce County Superior Court would like to congratulate judges James Orlando and Jack Nevin who were both recently awarded the William O. Douglas award. The award is in recognition of over 20 years of diligent service on the bench and their commitment to ...

Welcome Judges Thomas, Dept 13, and Adams, Dept 11

Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that Matthew Thomas and Susan Adams will start on the bench this Thursday, October 1, 2020.  Both judges were appointed by Governor Jay Inslee earlier this year to be the next judicial officers ...

Judge Kathryn Nelson retires from Superior Court

Pierce County Superior Court is announcing the retirement of Judge Kathryn J. Nelson from the bench after more than 19 years. Judge Nelson served as a Pierce County Superior Court Judge, Department 13, from January 2001 to September 18, 2020.

Judge Nelson ...

Local Rules updated as of September 1, 2020

The amended Pierce County Superior Court Local Rules will take effect as of September 1, 2020. A summary of the changes are available.

A New Look to Jury Duty (Video Series #3)

Court Operations Continue During COVID-19 (video series #2)

Keeping the Courthouse Clean and Safe (Video Series #1)

Pierce County Juror Appreciation (Stay Home, Stay Healthy Edition)

The month of May has historically been Jury Appreciation Month at the County City Building. With jury service suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are missing our jurors, and have to share our appreciation in a different way. Presi...

Governor Inslee appoints two new judges, Matthew Thomas and Susan Adams

Pierce County Superior Court is pleased to announce that Matthew Thomas and Susan Adams have been appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to be the next judicial officers for Department 13 and Department 11, respectively.

Video Streaming of Pierce County Court Proceedings

PRESS RELEASE

May 5, 2020

RE: Video Proceedings

Pierce County Superior Court is now streaming select civil, criminal and family proceedings through our website.  Not all departments are streaming court proceedings, but those who are will b...

Superior Court Offering Remote Settlement Conferences for Civil Cases

Superior Court of the

State of Washington

for Pierce County

PRESS RELEASE

April 29, 2020

RE: REMOTE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES FOR CIVIL CASES

In the interest of resolving civil cases in Pierce County Superior Court during the COVID-19 pandemic ...

Judge G. Helen Whitener Appointed to Washington Supreme Court

On April 13, 2020 Governor Inslee announced the appointment of Superior Court Judge G. Helen Whitener to the Washington State Supreme Court bench.

Superior Court Covid -19 Response - Following Changes effective March 17th, 2020

PIERCE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT PRESS RELEASE

MARCH 17, 2020

COVID-19 Response

The Pierce County Superior Court Judges met on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to discuss the court’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  During the meet...

Covid -19 Precautions - Updated March 11th, 2020. Following Changes effective March 16th, 2020

PIERCE COUNTY COURTS AND TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT PRESS RELEASEMARCH 11, 2020

COVID-19

Based on Governor Inslee’s press conference today, and after consultation with, Pierce County District Court, Tacoma Municipal Court and the Tacoma Pierce County ...

Governor Inslee appoints Clarence Henderson Jr. to Judge

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Retirement of Judge Frank Cuthbertson

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Judge John R. Hickman retires from Pierce County Superior Court

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Governor Inslee appoints Alicia Burton as Superior Court Judge

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Judge Stephanie Arend recipient of the William O. Douglas Award

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Pierce County Superior Court announces Philip E. Thornton as newest Court Commissioner

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Judge G. Helen Whitener recipient of the Excellence in Diversity Award

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/85777/11-5-19-press-release---Whitener-Smith-Award-final

Superior Court Judge Susan K. Serko to Retire

Pierce County Superior Court is announcing the retirement of Judge Susan K. Serko from the bench after more than 13 years.  Judge Serko’s last day will be August 31, 2019. 

Judge Susan K. Serko grew up living in Brooklyn, NY, Sp...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...