Court records of Walla Walla County, Washington, are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk and are accessible through several channels. WallaWallaCourt.us will help you quickly navigate publicly available information about court cases. Additionally, records can be searched through the Washington State Courts Portal, directly at the court clerk's office, or through the county public records page.
Walla Walla Court System Overview
The Walla Walla County court system operates within the unified structure of Washington State courts. The Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction that handles criminal cases involving serious offenses, civil claims without monetary limits, family, probate, and juvenile cases. In addition, the county has a District Court of limited jurisdiction. The Walla Walla County Superior Court has two departments; Judge of Department II is Patricia A. Fulton, and the court administrator is Rachel Taylor.
Clerk hours for public and confidential records: Monday — Friday, 1:00 PM–1:30 PM (special window). Full contact information can be found in the Washington State Courts Directory.
Courts Serving Walla Walla
Residents of the county are served by several judicial instances of different levels.
Walla Walla County Superior Court
Walla Walla County District Court
Walla Walla Municipal Court
College Place Municipal Court
Serves the city of College Place, which is part of the county.
U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Washington
Federal cases concerning Walla Walla County are heard in the Eastern District of Washington.
What Types of Cases Walla Walla Courts Hear
The county courts hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and infractions
- Civil claims of any scale
- Small claims cases
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony
- Probate cases, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases and child protection
- Adoption
The specific court depends on the type of case and the claim amount — more details below.
District Court Cases in Walla Walla
The Walla Walla County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction under Washington State law. It handles misdemeanors, public order violations, civil claims up to $100,000, small claims cases, and traffic infractions. DUI cases usually start here. Felony criminal cases pass through the District Court only at the preliminary hearing stage, after which they are transferred to the Superior Court. Cases are assigned to judges according to the court's internal schedule.
Magistrate Court Cases in Walla Walla
Washington State does not have a separate magistrate court as in some other states. The functions that a magistrate performs in other jurisdictions are carried out by the District Court and court commissioners here. The District Court handles:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil cases with claims up to $100,000
- Small claims up to $10,000
- Traffic violations, including DUI
- Certain categories of protective orders
The small claims limit in Washington is $10,000. The procedure is simplified: attorneys usually do not participate, and the judge makes a decision after a short hearing.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Walla Walla
Family law. Divorce, child custody determination, alimony, paternity establishment, and protective orders fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. To obtain a divorce certificate, contact the county vital records department or the State Department of Health. A copy of the divorce decree is issued by the Superior Court clerk.
Probate cases. The Superior Court handles inheritance, guardianship, conservatorship, and trust cases. Case materials are stored with the court clerk.
Juvenile cases. Cases involving juvenile offenders and child protection also fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Juvenile records are confidential under Washington State law (RCW 13.50). Access to them is restricted and requires separate court permission.
How Cases Move Through the Walla Walla Court System
- Case initiation. A criminal case begins with the filing of an indictment by the prosecutor. A civil case starts with a complaint or petition.
- Judge assignment. The case is assigned to judges according to the court's internal procedure.
- First hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment. In civil cases — planning conference.
- Pre-trial phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions. In criminal cases, plea negotiations are possible.
- Substantive hearing. A jury or a judge alone makes a decision. Settlement is possible in civil cases or a guilty plea in criminal cases.
- Post-decision. Sentencing, filing an appeal, enforcement of the court's decision.
You can check your hearing date through the court date search tool.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Walla Walla
The administration of the Superior Court is carried out by the Court Administrator — currently Rachel Taylor. There is a separate administrator for the District Court. Local court rules are published on the Washington State Courts Administrative Office website.
Public access to court records is governed by several regulations:
- Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) — provides broad access rights to public records.
- General Rule 31 of Washington State Courts — defines which court records are open, restricted, or sealed.
- Confidential records (juvenile cases, sealed documents, some family cases) are not displayed in public databases.
Hearings are usually open to the public. You can attend sessions in person at the courthouse at 315 W Main St. Some hearings are held remotely — check with the court administrator.
Requests for county public records are submitted through the public records office at 315 W Main, Room 102.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Walla Walla
- Case search by name. Washington Courts Name and Case Search allows you to find information about Superior Court and District Court cases. Note: data on the portal is for reference and does not replace the official record.
- Court dates. Check the schedule through Find My Court Date — the service covers Superior Courts, including Walla Walla.
- Archived case materials. The Washington State Digital Archives contains Superior Court case files from 1926. Documents are not available for preview — contact the clerk before ordering.
- Court clerk's office. Superior Court Clerk — Kathy Martin accepts requests for copies of criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. Phone: 509-524-2780.
- Sheriff's records. The County Sheriff's Office processes requests for public law enforcement records in accordance with RCW 42.56.
- Inmate search. The Washington State Department of Corrections provides an online search for individuals in custody at the state level.
- Warrant search. Warrant Search through the Department of Corrections allows you to find active warrants, including in Walla Walla County.
- County correctional facility. The county jail, built in 1982, serves the police departments of Walla Walla and College Place, as well as the sheriff's office.
- Land records. The County Auditor's Office maintains property records. Historical land records from 1986 are available through the auditor's digital archive.
- Sex offender registry. Washington State maintains a public registry through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
If you need help navigating these resources, start with WallaWallaCourt.us — it contains links to the main sources of public information about county court records.