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Judge Michael K. Ryan - Superior Court

How to contact a King County Superior Court judge and get ready for your trial or motion.
  • Courtroom Number: E-746
  • Bailiff: Marci Parducci
  • Department: 37
  • Assignment: Criminal

Recent Decision

Order on Summary Judgment: Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness et al v. City of Burien (24-2-00127-1 KNT)

Biography

Judge Ryan was appointed to the King County Superior Court on January 10, 2019 by Governor Jay Inslee. He assumed the position previously occupied by Judge Barbara Mack, who retired in January of that year.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Ryan was an Assistant City Attorney with the City of Seattle in the Government Affairs Section, where he focused on constitutional, appellate, and municipal law. Before that, he was a partner at the law firm of K&L Gates, where he began his career as an associate at Preston Gates & Ellis. While in private practice, he focused on complex civil litigation, municipal, constitutional, and appellate litigation. Judge Ryan also clerked for the Honorable Frank J. Magill of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Judge Ryan received his J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Georgetown University Law Center, where he also served as an Executive Editor for the Georgetown Law Journal. He received his B.S. with high honors, from Rutgers College, where he was the captain of the Cross-Country and Track and Field teams.

All parties/counsel are encouraged to read A Primer About Correct Lawyer Courtroom Conduct and the Trial Judge to understand best practices before appearing in court. (Permission for use of this article has been given by the author, Attorney Paul Luvera.)

Communications with the Court

Judge Ryan's court prefers for parties to communicate through email for any scheduling or administrative matters. This allows for all parties/counsel to be included in the correspondence to avoid ex parte communication. Parties shall review and comply with the Email Policy of King County Superior Court and shall not involve any substantive discussion about issues related to the case. Violations of these requirements may result in sanctions.

Additionally, the Court request that parties advise the Court immediately about motions or hearings that need to be continued or stricken and when cases are settled

Helpful Links

Please Review the Following Before Contacting the Court

  • Please review the review the applicable State Court Rules and Local Court Rules before contacting the court.
  • Litigants without counsel may find the following legal resources helpful: Legal Links & Resources and Family Law Facilitator Program.
  • Please notify the bailiff by e-mail if you need to continue or strike a motion -- always provide the case name, cause number, and the date for which the motion is noted, and file the Notice Striking Motion.

Court Rules Strictly Enforced

Parties/Counsel are expected to familiarize themselves with and follow the Court Rules. Compliance is required and failure to do so may result in sanctions.

The following rules should be reviewed prior to contacting the Court:

Civil Case Information, Forms, and Documents

AI may not be used in preparation of materials presented in court cases.

Order to Follow 

Non-Dispositive Motions

Parties must comply with all the requirements of KCLR 7 when setting and submitting motions without oral argument. Please provide a copy of all proposed orders in Word format to the Court through the eworking copies portal.

Copies of signed orders will be delivered to counsel or the parties electronically if email addresses have been provided to the Court. If no email address is available for an attorney or a party, parties/counsel may access the order through KCScript within 24-48 hours of the order being filed.

Motions for Orders to Show Cause

When a party is seeking an Order to Show Cause, the Motion for Order to Show Cause should be submitted to the Court and must include the underlying motion for which the party would be expected to show cause on.

Motions for Revision

This Court is considering all Motions for Revision without oral argument at this time. The moving party shall re-note their Motion for Revision without oral argument pursuant to LCR 7. This includes providing the index/list of submissions that were considered by the Commissioner as well as hard copies or eworking copies of those documents. A response is requested from the non-moving party. It should be filed, served and provided to the Court by the deadline in the local court rules. The judge will consider the motion and related materials on the date noted (or as soon as possible thereafter) and, if he determines oral argument is necessary, the bailiff will contact the parties to schedule a hearing.

Dispositive Motions and Hearing Requests

Oral argument on motions is generally scheduled for Friday mornings. Requests for hearing dates are accepted by emailing the bailiff. It is recommended that parties contact the bailiff as far in advance as possible prior to the hearing. When contacting the bailiff, you should include the case title and cause number in the subject line of the email. In the body of the email advise whose motion and what type of motion it is and if there are other parties in the case intending to file motions for the same hearing, so that timing can be figured out appropriately. All other parties/counsel should be cc’d on the email. The bailiff will provide several dates/times and require the parties to confer and advise which date/time works best for the parties. No slots will be reserved until all counsel’s availability has been confirmed.

When appearing for dispositive motions, parties should be prepared to argue their positions, provide citations to the record, and answer the Court’s questions. The Court will have read the parties’ materials. Therefore, while summarizing and focusing on their key points is helpful, regurgitating their briefs is not. 

Protective Orders and Motions to Seal

Motions to seal must comply with GR 15, LGR 15 and controlling caselaw. The agreement of the parties alone is not a sufficient basis for the sealing or redaction of court records. The moving party should provide a proposed order that includes the required findings. Documents must not be ‘”filed under seal” or redacted in the court file without prior permission (order) of the Court, regardless of what that parties believe is allowed by any Protective Order filed in the case. Any Protective Order signed by this Court will include the Court’s Attachment, which addresses the significant law and guidelines this Court expects counsel/parties to follow related to sealing or redacting documents. Note that “Before filing any substantive documents that contain information sought to be sealed, the moving party must obtain and order allowing documents to be sealed or redacted. This requires the moving party to allow sufficient time for noting its motion and receiving a ruling from the Court prior to filing the documents. Documents with substantive redactions shall not be filed without prior permission of the Court.”

Working Copies and Proposed Orders

Department 37 is a hardcopy (paper) court and prefers working copies submitted to the Judge’s mailroom  C-203, with Judge Ryan’s name and the case information clearly marked in the upper right hand corner, pursuant to the local court rules. This can be accomplished by submitting them through the working copies portal in the Clerk’s E-Filing system or having them delivered to the mailroom via a courier or alternative method. The Court does not accept working copies via email, absent prior authorization.

Working copies must be submitted in compliance with LCR 7(b)(4)(F), on the day they are to be served on the other parties and must include the Word Count pursuant to LCR 7(b)(5)(B)(vi). DO NOT wait to submit working copies with your reply.

Parties are encouraged to use the Clerk’s Office E-Working Copies service.  Proposed orders should be submitted in Word format.  The Court does not accept working copies via email, except proposed orders when working copies have been submitted in hard copy and not through the Clerk’s E-Working Copies system.

Judge Ryan’s court does accept stipulations and agreed orders for consideration through email. They must be signed by all parties prior to sending to the bailiff.

The Court requests that courtesy copies of working copies not be sent through email, since hard copies are required.

Please note: It is not sufficient to refer to materials in your briefing without including them in your submissions to the Court. To be considered by the Court, working copies must include all materials referenced therein and must not be redacted. (see also LCR 7 (b)(5)(B)) Additionally, out of state authorities must be provided.

Motions to Compel Discovery

Please pay careful attention to the “meet and confer” requirements of LCR 37(e) and CR26(i). The conference of counsel must be in person or by telephone. Email is not a substitute for a dialogue on these issues. A certification by counsel that the conference requirements of these rules have been met is required, and should set out with particularity the nature, extent, and time of the conference.

Court Involvement in Discovery

Early judicial involvement in discovery can often avoid disputes and expedite resolution of disputes when they arise. Judge Ryan encourages the parties to request a CR 16 or CR 26(f) to consider matters such as:

  • Scope and timing of discovery.
  • Limitations of discovery requests and depositions.
  • Procedures and protocols for electronic discovery.
  • Expert witness disclosures and discovery.
  • Anything else that would promote the efficient resolution of the case.

In complex cases or when it appears the parties are not working well in discovery on their own, the Court may order the parties to participate in a Discovery Conference.

In all discovery matters, lawyers should abide by their obligations to reasonably cooperate with one another, as expressed in the Rules of Professional Conduct. They should follow a “Golden Rule” of discovery: Seek discovery only of what you would consider reasonable if you were on the other side, and answer discovery as reasonably as you would expect it to be answered if you had promulgated it. Discovery should be reasonable, cooperative, and reciprocal; it should not resemble battle in any respect. Zealous advocacy should make use of the fruits of discovery; it should not be employed to seek unreasonable discovery or to avoid reasonable discovery.

If a discovery dispute arises, Judge Ryan encourages the parties to seek his assistance in resolving it efficiently. Many disputes can be resolved promptly in a Zoom conference without the necessity of a formal motion. If the parties agree to informal guidance or resolution, please email ryan.court@kingcounty.gov to arrange a conference. The email should – as succinctly and non-argumentatively as possible – describe the nature of the dispute and set forth each parties’ position. (As always, you must copy all parties on any email to the court.) If multiple or complex discovery disputes arise, Judge Ryan may ask the parties to appear for a discovery conference in court. Telephonic, Zoom, and in-person conferences promote thoughtful, timely, and inexpensive resolution of disputes, and help the parties get back on track working well together in discovery.

Criminal Motions and Sentencing Hearings

For any motion for which no criminal applies, regarding scheduling and briefing, the parties shall follow LCR 7(b). Responses are required on all motions and should be submitted pursuant to the timing provided in LCR 7.

Presentence Reports are required on all felonies pursuant CrR 7.1(a). This Court also requests them on all misdemeanors, regardless of whether the recommendation is agreed.

Motions for exceptional sentences shall be accompanied by proposed findings and submitted 7 days prior to the hearing pursuant to CrR 7.1(b).

Pretrial Requirements

Judge Ryan requires all parties and counsel to work together to complete the witness time examination form, which must be submitted together with responses to case management emails from the bailiff, prior to setting a pretrial conference.  All other pretrial materials are due five court days prior to trial, unless otherwise requested by the Court.

Additionally, Counsel/Parties shall review the Attorney Guidelines re: Preparing Jury Instructions and Deposition Designation Guidelines to ensure compliance with this Court’s expectations.

Trial Exhibits

For civil trials, parties must comply with the Court’s pretrial conference order. If ordered, parties must upload all exhibits into Case Center no later than five court days before the scheduled trial date.

Case Center is a program that allows exhibits to be electronically transferred, viewed, and filed with the Court for purposes of hearings and trial. The Case Center exhibit system is used for trial, where there is an Order of Pre-Trial Conference entered by a judicial officer that requires Case Center.

More information regarding Case Center can be found here: Electronic Exhibits - King County, Washington

Hearing / Trial Information

General trial schedule is Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Court hears civil non-dispositive motions on Friday mornings and Sentencing Calendars on Friday afternoons.

If you have a civil case which is assigned to Judge Ryan, your case could be assigned to another available judge for trial.  The assignment will generally take place on the Thursday afternoon the week prior to the trial date. You are still required to comply with all court rules regarding pretrial submissions and deadlines. All trial materials will be provided to the trial judge at the time of assignment by the bailiff. To determine what judge you have been assigned to for trial, please check the Civil Standby Calendar. It will be updated on the Thursday afternoon prior to trial and is continuously updated (as needed) at other times.

Court Decorum Expectations

Please review the Rules of Conduct.

Recording/Photography in the Courtroom or on Zoom

Recording or photography of any kind while the Court is on the record is strictly prohibited without prior permission of the Court. The Court audio records all proceedings. Copies of the recordings are available through the Clerk’s Office (see Court Transcripts below).

Zoom/Virtual Proceedings

Most proceedings will occur in the brick and mortar courtroom at this time. If the Court allows parties the option to appear on Zoom for a hearing, all counsel/parties must appear on the same platform. Thus, if a party’s preference is to appear in-person in court, all parties/counsel arguing the matter are expected to appear in the courtroom as well. If the parties are given the opportunity to appear on Zoom and agree to that platform, the hearing will take place on Zoom. The bailiff will provide the Zoom information and the participants will be expected to follow the below protocol:

  • Prior to the hearing, counsel, their clients and witnesses should Watch Virtual Meeting Tips and practice with each witness/client prior to joining the hearing/trial.
  • Additionally, they should practice screen sharing, if they will be sharing any materials during the proceedings.
  • Participants shall log on identified by their full name and, if possible, identifying their role in the case.
  • Those who are participating in the case as counsel, a party, or a witness must have video and audio capability.
  • The bailiff will check technology of each participant as needed when they are admitted to the meeting and will rename them in the manner most helpful to the Court.
  • Participants should be advised that they are in a court proceeding
  • Observers shall join with video disabled and their microphone on MUTE. Failure to comply with this may result in the participant being removed from the meeting.
  • Participants shall not use the chat function, unless asked to respond by the meeting host.

Requests for counsel, a party, or witness to appear on Zoom should be addressed through regular motions practice.

Any request for observers to have access via Zoom may be made by emailing the bailiff at least 48-hours prior to the hearing to confirm whether Zoom will be enabled during the hearing.

In the event of an all-virtual trial, additional information will be provided to the parties prior to the proceedings.

Nobody is authorized to record the proceedings by any means without prior permission of the Court.

Courtroom Technology

Our courtroom is equipped with exhibit display technology, which counsel/parties may log connect to from their computers. If you anticipate the need to use technology or easels for trial or hearings, you should visit the courtroom in advance to test your technology and plan your set-up in a manner that will be most efficient and effective. Recognizing that the court is busy, please do this well in advance of your trial.

Court Transcripts

For cases with an assigned court reporter: If prior to the hearing or trial you know that you will want a copy of the transcript, please contact the court reporter.

For digitally recorded courtrooms: If prior to the hearing or trial you know that you will want a copy of the CD, notify the courtroom clerk, who will be able to provide the information needed at the end of the hearing. If at some time following the hearing or trial, you determine you need a copy of the CD, it may be obtained directly from the Clerk's Office copy center. You will need to submit a completed CD Request Form (40KB).

Notifying the Court re Settlement and/or Need to Strike Scheduled Motions or Hearings

Parties are requested to IMMEDIATELY notify the bailiff when a case settles and/or a scheduled motion needs to be stricken.

 

 

 

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