District Court

IMPORTANT NOTICE

WHATCOM COUNTY DISTRICT COURT ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY SERVICE MODIFICATIONS DUE TO STATEWIDE SYSTEM OUTAGE

 Bellingham, WA — Whatcom County District Court is experiencing service interruptions due to unauthorized activity detected on the Washington Courts network. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has taken immediate action to secure critical systems and is actively working to safely restore services.

During this period of limited system access, the Whatcom County District Court will continue to serve the public with modified operations. We appreciate the public's patience and understanding as we work to maintain essential services while protecting the integrity of court records and systems.

AVAILABLE SERVICES:

  • In-person filing of paper documents
  • Processing of protection orders
  • Online credit card payments
  • Access to physical court records maintained in our office
  • Probation and Mental Health Court Services

 TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE SERVICES:

  • Electronic court record searches
  • Electronically filed citations
  • In person payments including credit card, cash or check

 WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW:

  • District Court will remain open during regular business hours
  • All scheduled hearings will continue to be held
  • Please bring paper copies of all documents when filing

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

  • Questions about local court operations and available services should be directed to our office.
  • All inquiries regarding the system outage, security measures, timeline for restoration, or statewide impact should be directed to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
  • For updates about the system status, please visit the Administrative Office of the Courts Facebook page at facebook.com/Washington Courts

 We anticipate these service modifications will remain in effect throughout this week. Updates on system and service restoration will be posted on our website at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/420/District-Court

About the Court

The Whatcom County District Court consists of 2 Judges, elected for 4 years, 1 appointed Commissioner, and professional and paraprofessional staff. The court hears criminal, civil, infraction and miscellaneous cases.

“Justice in all cases shall be administered openly, and without unnecessary delay.”

Washington State Constitution, Article I, Section 10.

 Washington State’s judicial branch is a constitutionally separate, independent and co- equal branch of government. It is the duty of the judicial branch to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and resolve disputes peacefully through the open and fair administration of justice in the state.

The judicial branch in Washington State is a local and state partnership where local courts, court managers and court personnel work in concert with statewide courts, judicial branch agencies and support systems.

The judicial branch maintains effective relations with the executive and legislative branches of state and local governments, which are grounded in mutual respect.

  1. Fair and Effective Administration of Justice. Washington courts will openly, fairly, efficiently and effectively administer justice in all cases, consistent with constitutional mandates and the judiciary’s duty to maintain the highest level of public trust and confidence in the courts.
  2. Accessibility. Washington courts, court facilities and court systems will be open and accessible to all participants regardless of income, language, culture, ability, or other access barrier.
  3. Access to Necessary Representation. Constitutional and statutory guarantees of the right to counsel shall be effectively implemented. Litigants with important interests at stake in civil judicial proceedings should have meaningful access to counsel.
  4. Commitment to Effective Court Management. Washington courts will employ and maintain systems and practices that enhance effective court management.
  5. Sufficient Staffing and Support. Washington courts will be appropriately staffed and effectively managed, and court personnel, court managers and court systems will be effectively supported and trained.

*Principal Policy Goals of the Washington State Judicial Branch, as approved by the Board for Judicial Administration during their February 16, 2018 meeting. 

Criminal Cases

Criminal misdemeanor cases carry a maximum penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Criminal gross misdemeanor cases carry a maximum penalty of up to 1 year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Some examples of criminal cases heard by the court are:

  •  Assault (Including Domestic Violence)
  • Driving While License Suspended
  • DUI
  • Theft and Miscellaneous Property Crimes

Civil Cases

Civil cases including both general civil actions and small claims actions. General civil actions with damage claims in the maximum amount of $100,000. The court does not hear cases involving title to or possession of real property. Small claims actions with money claims in the maximum amount of $10,000. The small claims court may only grant a judgment for monetary damages. The court may not order the other party to return property or do any action except the payment of money.

Infractions

Infractions including traffic and code violations.

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous proceedings including:

  • Civil Protection Order Petitions
  • Name Change Petitions
  • Contested Vehicle Impound Hearings

District Court Hearing Information

Remote appearances and access to each day’s calendars for District Court hearings is as easy as the click of a button! Remote hearing instructions are available by clicking the tab to the left titled, "District Court Calendar/Remote Hearing Info."