![\"Court](\"https:\/\/gwilliamslaw.com\/court-slips\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cropped-Logo-Court-Slips-Official.png\"){kind=logo}
\r\n\r\nThis is our website category for Washington Courts. The WA State Supreme Court is the state's highest court. The Court of Appeals is divided into three divisions; each serves a specific geographic area of WA.\r\nIMPORTANT: The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is based upon my point of view. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content in this article. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct legal advice from your attorney. Please review our Disclaimer \/ Terms of Use \/ Privacy Policy<\/a> before proceeding.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n1.\u00a0 WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT<\/h3>\r\nThe WA Supreme Court is the state's highest court. Its opinions are published, become the law of the state, and set precedent for subsequent cases decided in Washington. The content of this page originates from the Washington State Courts Official Website<\/a>.\r\n
Jurisdiction<\/span><\/h5>\r\nThe Court has original jurisdiction of petitions against state officers and can review decisions of lower courts if the money or value of property involved exceeds $200. The $200 limitation is not in effect if the case involves a question of the legality of a tax, duty, assessment, toll, or municipal fine, or the validity of a statute.\r\n\r\nDirect Supreme Court review of a trial court decision is permitted if the action involves a state officer, a trial court has ruled a statute or ordinance unconstitutional, conflicting statutes or rules of law are involved, or the issue is of broad public interest and requires a prompt and ultimate determination. All cases in which the death penalty has been imposed are reviewed directly by the Supreme Court. In all other cases, review of Court of Appeals decisions is left to the discretion of the court.\r\n
Departments<\/span><\/h5>\r\nMotions to be determined by the Court, and petitions for review of Court of Appeals decisions, are heard by five-member departments of the Court. A less-than-unanimous vote on a petition requires that the entire court consider the matter.\r\n
Appeals<\/span><\/h5>\r\nAll nine justices hear and dispose of cases argued on the appeal calendar. Each case is decided on the basis of the record, plus written and oral arguments. Exhibits are generally not allowed and no live testimony is heard.\r\n
Final Rule-Making Authority<\/span><\/h5>\r\nThe Supreme Court is the final rule-making authority for all of the state's courts. Though local courts make their own rules of procedure, these rules must conform to, or not conflict with, those established by the Supreme Court. In addition, the Supreme Court has administrative responsibility for operation of the state court system.\r\n\r\nIt also has a supervisory responsibility over certain activities of the Washington State Bar Association, including attorney disciplinary matters.\r\n
2.\u00a0 WASHINGTON COURT OF APPEALS<\/h3>\r\nThe Court of Appeals is divided into three divisions. Each serves a specific geographic area of the state. Division 1, located in the One Union Square Building in downtown Seattle, has 10 judges; Division 2 in Tacoma has seven judges; and Division 3 has five judges and is located in downtown Spokane.\r\n
Jurisdiction<\/span><\/h5>\r\nMost cases appealed from superior courts go directly to the Court of Appeals. It is a non-discretionary appellate court--it must accept all appeals filed with it. And it has authority to reverse (overrule), remand (send back to the lower court), modify, or affirm the decision of the lower court.\r\n\r\nThe court decides each case after reviewing the transcript of the record in the superior court and considering the arguments of the parties. Generally, it hears oral arguments in each case but does not take live testimony.\r\n
Judges<\/span><\/h5>\r\nThe 22 judges on the Court serve six-year staggered terms to ensure that all judges are not up for reelection at the same time. Each division is divided into three geographic districts and a specific number of judges must be elected from each.\r\n
LEARN MORE<\/h3>\r\nRead our associated articles to learn more about this topic.","link":"https:\/\/gwilliamslaw.com\/court-slips\/category\/courts\/","name":"Courts","slug":"courts","taxonomy":"category","parent":0,"meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n