Judge Monica Cary - Superior Court

• Courtroom Number: 4D
• Bailiff: Joanna Antrim
• Department: 3
• Assignment: Unified Family Court (UFC)

Biography

Judge Monica Cary was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee.  At the time of her appointment, Judge Cary had been serving as a Court Commissioner. In this role, she presided over family law motions, civil protection orders, truancy, trial by affidavit calendars, and At-Risk Youth and Children in Need of Services matters. In July 2024, Judge Cary became Co-Chair of the King County CSEC (Commercially Sexually Exploited Children) Task Force. The CSEC Task Force gathers people who work with youth to enhance communication among them.

Prior to joining the judiciary, Judge Cary was an associate and then a partner at a local law firm where she practiced for 18 years. As an attorney, Judge Cary committed a significant portion of her work to pro bono direct representation and community leadership including serving on the boards of the South Asian Bar Association of Washington, FamilyWorks Food Bank, API Chaya, and the Washington First Responder's Will Clinic.

Judge Cary earned her bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College and her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School. Judge Cary's volunteer work brought her to Seattle in 1997 when she joined the Martin Luther King VISTA Corps.

Requests

Appearing via Zoom

• Court attire is required.
• Log in at least 10 minutes before the meeting time.
• Watch Virtual Meeting Tips.
• Test your internet connection prior to your appearance in court.
• Ensure your witnesses and clients have also watched Virtual Meeting Tips.
• Practice with each witness/client prior to joining the hearing/trial.

Email

Do not email Judge Cary directly. All correspondence must go through her bailiff.

Civil case information, forms, and documents

• Contact the Clerk's Office for information regarding individual civil cases. The main information desk can be reached by calling 206-296-9300.
• For civil calendar information, check the Civil Standby Calendar and the Clerk's Office Directory of Court Calendars.
• Civil Court Forms are available both online and from the Clerk's Office.

Rules to review before calling the court

• Ex Parte Procedures - King County Local Rule 40.1
• Procedures for motions without oral argument - King County Local Rule 7
• Revision & Reconsideration - King County Local Rule 7
• Trial Continuance - King County Local Rule 40
• Summary Judgments - Civil Rule 56 Motion to Dismiss - Civil Rule 12
• Motion to Set Aside Judgment - Civil Rule 60

Court transcripts

Judge Cary operates a digitally recorded courtroom. If prior to the hearing or trial you know that you 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. The direct phone number is 206-296-7848.

If you need to have a transcript created, a list of court approved transcriptionists is available from the Clerk’s Office.

Requesting or setting oral argument for motions

If you are setting a dispositive motion, you must e-mail Judge Cary’s bailiff and schedule time on her calendar. If you do not have access to e-mail, please call the above number. Dispositive motions are generally set on Friday mornings (at 9 am, 10 am, or 11 am). Please call or email to schedule your hearing at least 2 months prior to the hearing date you would like to request. Other types of motions that are granted oral argument are motions for restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, revisions, and class certification hearings.

Most other motions do not require oral argument under the Civil Rules or Local Rules (see links above). If a party would like to request oral argument, the motion should be noted pursuant to the applicable court rules, simply noting in the upper right-hand corner "Oral Argument Requested." After Judge Cary has reviewed all briefing (moving papers, responses, and replies), if the Court determines oral argument is appropriate, the bailiff will contact the parties and set a mutually acceptable time for oral argument to be presented.

No deliveries directly to the courtroom

Unless arrangements have been made directly with Judge Cary’s bailiff, no deliveries are to be made directly to the courtroom. All deliveries should be made to the Judges' Mailroom. (See mailing address above.)

Pre-trial requirements

All trial memoranda, proposed jury instructions, and other trial submissions are due no later than 7 court days prior to trial. Please contact the Court Clerk by email to obtain information on pre-numbering exhibits. All submissions should be made to Judge Cary via e-working copies (i.e. KCMS). In civil cases, Judge Cary requires all parties and counsel to work together to complete the Witness Examination Time Form, and that form must be submitted together with other pre-trial memoranda 14 court days prior to trial. If the parties intend to use depositions in trial, designations and objections shall be marked according to these guidelines. Deposition designations and objections shall be provided to the Court at least 7 days prior to trial, along with other pre-trial materials.

Hearing or trial information

General trial schedule is Monday through Wednesday or Thursday between 9:00am to 4:00pm with breaks in the morning and afternoon. Judge Cary generally hears civil non-dispositive motions and sentence modification hearings at 8:30 am. and 1 pm. All 8:30 am hearings will conclude no later than 8:55 am, and all 4 pm hearings will conclude no later than 4:25 pm.

If you have a civil case which is assigned to Judge Cary, there is the possibility that your case could be assigned to another judge at the time of trial. The assignment will generally take place on Thursday afternoon prior to trial. You are still required to comply with all court rules regarding pre-trial submissions and deadlines. All papers submitted will be provided to the trial judge at the time of assignment by Judge Cary’s Bailiff. To determine what judge you have been assigned to for trial, please check the Civil Standby Calendar. It will be updated on Thursday afternoon prior to trial and is continuously updated (as needed) at other times.

Judge Cary requires all counsel and parties to be prepared at the end of each day to disclose all witnesses that party is intending to call the following day in trial.