Pierce County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Sitting on a land area measuring 1,670 square miles, Pierce County is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. It had an estimated population of 918,993 in 2022. It was formed by the Oregon Territory legislature in 1852, with Tacoma serving as its county seat. The Pierce County court system, which comprises the Superior Court, Juvenile Court, District Court, and Municipal Courts, is responsible for maintaining the law and making sure that justice is accessible to the people.

As a trial court of general jurisdiction, the Pierce County Superior Court has statutory authority over a broad range of criminal and civil matters. It handles serious crimes punishable by more than a year of incarceration, family matters, probate matters, and legal issues concerning property rights and ownership. The exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile cases lies with the Juvenile Court. This court handles the violation of criminal law by juveniles and also strives to protect children who are at risk of neglect, abuse, or abandonment. The District Court focuses on handling misdemeanors, especially those that are punishable by short jail time or fines. It also handles traffic infractions, name changes, and domestic violence matters. Municipal Courts hear minor criminal offenses, municipal ordinance violations, and traffic infractions within their geographical limits. Eighteen out of twenty-three municipalities in Pierce County have a Municipal Court, excluding Auburn, Pacific, Edgewood, Dupont, and University Place. Municipal services are provided to the remaining municipalities by either the Pierce District Court or King County.

Deduced from the Courts of Washington Caseloads Reports, Pierce County Superior Court handles approximately 25,000 case dispositions annually, primarily involving civil cases. Additionally, the District and Municipal Courts, collectively grouped as courts of limited jurisdiction, handle over 200,000 caseloads each year. The majority of these cases are traffic infractions, parking, and civil cases. Furthermore, the Pierce County Clerk maintains court records for cases handled within the county. Some of these records are available to the public through the LINX website or by requesting certified or non-certified copies from the County Clerk. Examples of court records excluded from public viewing in Pierce County include:

• Paternity records
• Adoption records
• Juvenile (non-offenders) records
• Sealed records

The legal workload in Pierce County is effectively distributed between its courts, including the District, Superior, Municipal, and Juvenile Courts. The Superior Court handles serious cases, while the Municipal and District Courts handle simpler cases. Pierce County ensures its residents have unrestricted access to public court records through resources like the LINX website and by requesting copies directly from the county clerk.