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Criminal cases

Learn how to tell if a ticket is for a criminal charge or a traffic infraction, and how you must respond.

The following information is intended to address the most frequently asked questions about criminal charges in District Court. It IS NOT legal advice. If you need legal advice, consult an attorney. 

Always notify the court if your mailing address changes!

Text message notifications

To receive text message reminders of your court dates, fill out the SMS Opt In form and mail it to the courthouse location listed on your Notice of Hearing.

Difference between criminal cases & traffic infractions

Here is how to tell if the case is for a criminal charge or for a traffic infraction. 

Traffic infractions

If the “BAIL” box shows a dollar ($) amount, you have received a traffic infraction, not a criminal charge. Visit the Pay or Contest a Citation/Ticket page.

Criminal tickets

If the "MANDATORY" box is checked on the front of the form, you have been charged with a crime. One of the following situations applies to you:

  1. If the “Appearance Date” box includes a date, you must appear in court at that date and time, or a Judge may issue a warrant for your arrest.

  2. If the “Appearance Date” box is blank, the Court will send you a Notice to Appear. We will mail this notice to the address listed on your ticket. If you do not receive a notice within 15 days, or if the address on the ticket is not correct, contact the Court immediately.

Appearance in court on criminal charges

When you appear in court on a criminal charge, a Judge will advise you of your constitutional rights and the possible penalties if you are convicted. You also may be asked to enter a plea of “NOT GUILTY” or “GUILTY.” You have the right to an attorney. If you qualify, an attorney will be appointed for you at public expense. Refer to Public defender screening below.

If you do not appear at this mandatory court date, a Judge may issue a warrant for your arrest.

Public defender screening

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you must be screened and determined eligible for a public defender. It is better to talk to your attorney immediately, rather than waiting. To see if you qualify for a public defender, you must contact the public defender screener for the jurisdiction that charged you with a crime. Even if an attorney was originally assigned to you while you were in custody, you must still screen upon release to see if you continue to qualify.

The jurisdiction that charged you with a crime is shown on the front of the ticket as either:

  • "State of Washington" for state cases OR
  • "City of <city name>" for city cases

Criminal appeals

The procedures for appealing a Criminal judgment from King County District Court are contained in the Washington State Courts Rules for Appeal of Decisions of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction.

The following steps must be taken within 30 days from entry of judgment:

  1. Prepare a written Notice of Appeal and Case Information Cover Sheet (CICS) and file the forms with King County District Court.
  2. Include with your Notice of Appeal a cashier’s check or money order for $230.00 made payable to Clerk of King County Superior Court.
  3. File the Notice of Appeal and $230 fee with King County District Court within 30 days from entry of Judgment. A $40.00 filing fee is required for criminal cases, unless a Judge waives the fee.
  4. Within 14 days of filing the Notice of Appeal, a Designation of Record to be Transmitted to King County Superior Court must be filed with King County District Court. Once received, King County District Court has 14 days to prepare the record. Within 14 days after the Designation of Record is filed, the District Court clerks shall prepare the record and notify each party that the record is ready to transmit. A fee of $40.00 for all case types will be required to be paid to King County District Court for the preparation of the record. It is the appellant’s responsibility to have the tape or CD accurately transcribed.
  5. IN A CRIMINAL CASE, in order to stay the enforcement of a sentence, the defendant will need to obtain an order from King County District Court and the Court may require you to post a bond. If the bond is not posted, you are required to comply with the sentence. Even if an Order for Waiver of Fees (in Forma Pauperis) is signed, this bond is still necessary. 
 
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