Spokane County District Court Jurisdiction
The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. It hears criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors, traffic and non-traffic infractions, small claims, name changes, civil matters within its dollar limits, and civil protection orders. On an average year, the court reports more than 46,000 cases filed. That volume makes it the busiest court most county residents will ever deal with.
Felony cases and family-law matters do not belong here; those go to the Superior Court. Appeals from the District Court can move up to the Spokane County Superior Court. The county District Court page sets out the court's mission and case types.
The court's stated mission is prompt, fair, and courteous justice, with timely rulings, sound case management, and careful use of public funds. Because the District Court touches so many residents through traffic tickets and small civil matters, its records draw heavy public use. The same county Court Viewer that serves the Superior Court also serves the District Court, so one tool covers both trial courts.
Cities the District Court Serves
The District Court covers the unincorporated parts of Spokane County plus several cities that contract with it for court services. City code cases in Spokane proper go to the separate Spokane Municipal Court, not the District Court. The contracting cities are listed below.
- Deer Park and Fairfield
- Latah and Liberty Lake
- Millwood and Rockford
- Spangle and Spokane Valley
Because of this split, a Spokane city ticket may not appear in a county District Court search. When a case is missing, check whether it belongs to the municipal court instead.
Search Spokane County District Court Cases
District Court cases are searched through the county Court Viewer. You can look up a case by its number, by party name, or by hearing date. A name search needs at least a last name and a first initial. The case number for District Court uses an alphanumeric format, unlike the numeric Superior Court format. The table lists the main search fields.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Text | If known | Alphanumeric District Court format. |
| Last Name | Text | Yes | Full last name for a name search. |
| First Name | Text | Yes | First initial minimum; full name narrows results. |
| Hearing Date | Date | For calendar search | Find a hearing list for one date. |
A case-number search opens the case information, documents, and hearings panels for that file.
For hearing calendars and how to read them, the court dockets page goes deeper.
Traffic, Small Claims, and Name Changes
Traffic and non-traffic infractions make up a big part of the District Court's work. Common examples include speeding, failure to yield, no insurance, expired vehicle license, defective equipment, and parking in a disabled zone. The court record for a ticket is separate from the state driver record kept by the Department of Licensing.
The court also runs small claims, name changes, and limited civil cases. Small-claims files hold the claim, service, hearing, judgment, and any payment or appeal. For ticket detail, see traffic court records; for criminal detail, see arrest records.
What District Court Records Show
A District Court record holds the basic facts of a case from filing to outcome. A name search returns the party name, case number, and date of birth. A case-number search opens the full record panels. The fields below appear in most District Court files, though some stay blank until a case moves forward.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The alphanumeric District Court file number. |
| Defendant / Party | The named person or business in the case. |
| Charge / Infraction | The crime or violation alleged. |
| Hearing Date | Calendar, time, and courtroom. |
| Disposition | The outcome, such as a finding, plea, or dismissal. |
| Fine / Payment Status | Amount owed and whether it is paid. |
Treat the online data as reference material. The official record stays with the court of record, and the District Court Clerk handles certified copies.
Therapeutic Courts and Self-Help Videos
The District Court publishes a set of short informational videos to help people who appear without a lawyer. Topics include a criminal overview, bench warrant recall, defendant rights, whether you need a lawyer, and therapeutic courts. These are a useful first stop before a hearing.
Defendants who cannot afford counsel may apply for a public defender, though that process runs through Pretrial Services and a judge's appointment. The court's mission stresses prompt, fair handling of cases and steady case management across its high volume.
For a deeper look at how arrests turn into charges and where booking data lives, the arrest records page connects the jail roster to court cases. Many District Court defendants first appear after a citation or a booking, so the two records often line up.
District Court Records Request Forms
Some District Court records are not in the online viewer and must be requested on a form. The court offers three request types: a General Defendant or Case Request, an Other Court Statistics Request, and an Administrative Records Request. You fill the form on screen, print and sign it, then mail, deliver, or fax it to the court's Public Records Officer.
The county records-request page explains the forms and where to send them.
A simple defendant or case request costs only the per-page copy fee. Broader reports and administrative requests carry special fees, shown below.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Administrative fee | $25 |
| JIS run-time fee (2-minute minimum) | $10 per minute |
| Evaluation, research, or programming | $40 per hour |
| Compact disc | $10 each |
| Email attachment / electronic report | No charge |
Mail or fax requests to the Spokane County District Court, Attn: Public Records Officer, PO Box 2352, Spokane, WA 99210-2352; fax 509-477-6445.
Protection Orders and Civil Matters
The District Court handles civil protection orders, which can cover anti-harassment, domestic violence, vulnerable adults, sexual assault, and stalking. These records may be public in part, but addresses, minors, and safety-sensitive details can be sealed or redacted. People who want a protection order can fill the petition electronically and then contact the court's civil protection order team.
Small claims and limited civil cases round out the civil side. Small claims give people a low-cost way to resolve money disputes under a set dollar limit, without the formal rules of a larger civil suit. A small-claims file holds the claim, proof of service, the hearing result, the judgment, and any payment or appeal. Name-change cases are also handled here and are usually public unless sealed for safety.
District Court Bench Warrant Recall
If a District Court case is in bench warrant status, you or your attorney must appear at the District Clerk windows 7, 8, or 9 and ask to set a bench warrant recall hearing. The warrant stays active until you appear at the assigned court date. At that hearing, the judge decides whether to quash the warrant.
Note: Setting a recall hearing does not cancel a warrant on its own; the warrant stays in force until a judge quashes it.
More on warrants, including the Superior Court recall form and a scam warning, is on the warrant records page.
District Court Hours and Contact
The District Court sits in the Public Safety Building near the courthouse campus. Customer service counter hours changed to 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning May 18, 2026 because of staffing shortages. Phone hours run in two blocks across the day. Confirm the right counter before you arrive.
Spokane County District Court
Public Safety Building, 1100 W Mallon Ave
Spokane, WA 99260
509-477-4770
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.