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 ...

2021 Superior Court Pro Tem Judge Application

Attorneys interested in applying to be on the 2021 Pro Tem Judge/Settlement Mediator panel can access the application on the Superior Court Website; or by clicking the link below. Complete applications are due by 4PM, October 30, 2020, and should be submi...

2021 Superior Court Pro Tem Commissioner Application

Beginning September 14th, attorneys interested in applying for the 2020 Pierce County Superior Court Pro Tem Commissioner List shall complete a Pierce County Personnel Application, Superior Court Supplemental Questionnaire, and Release of Information. &am...

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)

What to expect when coming to Pierce County District Court

SEATING IS LIMITED IN THE COURTROOM:  To decrease the number of people in the Courtrooms please attempt to limit the number of people in your party.  Persons interested in viewing the proceedings may watch the hearing which is being live...

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...

Governor Inslee appoints Clarence Henderson Jr. to Judge

/DocumentCenter/View/90930

Retirement of Judge Frank Cuthbertson

/DocumentCenter/View/90929

Judge John R. Hickman retires from Pierce County Superior Court

/DocumentCenter/View/86858

Governor Inslee appoints Alicia Burton as Superior Court Judge

/DocumentCenter/View/86549

Judge Stephanie Arend recipient of the William O. Douglas Award

/DocumentCenter/View/86376

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

/DocumentCenter/View/86377

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...

Superior Court 2017-2018 Biennial Report is now available

The reports are available here:  Biennial Reports

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

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...

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...

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...

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...