Court Docket Information (by case type)

Criminal -  Judges are hearing preliminary appearance, arraignments, bail motions, triage and plea/sentencing hearings.  Pursuant to the Supreme Court Order dated May 29, 2020, Superior Court shall hear matters by telephone, video or other means that do not require in person attendance when appropriate.    

Criminal Jury Trials- Have resumed in person.

Civil Dockets are being conducted by Zoom with both telephone and video options.   Information on these dockets is listed in more detail below.  Every day we include a Zoom meeting link on our main calendar (found on the website) so that docket participants can access their hearings.  In addition, you can find these links on the Superior Court website Court Operation Updates in the blue ribbon, Court Participant Information, Zoom Links by Docket.  In-person appearance is encouraged. 

Civil Trials: have resumed, using Zoom with both telephone and video options whenever possible. In person attendance is encouraged. If appearing by Zoom, exhibits will need to be submitted to the Clerk’s office 24 hours prior to trial with the required exhibit form for hearings, provided by the Clerk.

Domestic Motions:  Notice of Presentation following hearings conducted via Zoom may be noted for presentation with five (5) court days’ notice.  In-person appearance is also encouraged.

Domestic Trials:  will be held using Zoom with both telephone and video options, whenever possible.  In person attendance is encouraged. If appearing by Zoom, exhibits will need to be submitted to the Clerk's Office 24 hours prior to trial with the required exhibit form for hearings, provided by the Clerk. (Clerk Exhibit Cover Sheet Form).

NOTE: This new process will change the way that we need you to assist us in processing your trial.

A party needs to confirm their trial five (5) court days in advance of the trial date that is set by the Court Administration office. LCR 40(b)(4).

Once the trial is confirmed, the Court Administrator’s office will work to determine which cases can go to trial.  The parties will receive notice from the Court Administrator’s office at least two (2) court (business) days before the trial commencement date if their case will go to trial.

Once this occurs, the parties need to work to arrange for copies of their exhibits (documents) to be immediately exchanged with the other party.  See LCR 40(e)(1) (which requires an exchange the week in advance of trial).  Parties are also obligated to try to agree which exhibits are admissible.  LCR 40(e)(1).

By 10:00 AM on the court (business) day before the trial is set to begin, the parties must file their exhibits with the Clerk of the Court.  These are the exhibits that they intend to use at trial.  The Clerk’s office has a cover sheet to use specifically for trial exhibits so ask for this coversheet when filing these with the Clerk’s office.  This will give the Clerk’s office an opportunity to mark the exhibits prior to trial.  It is preferred that the exhibits are in binders with numbered tabs. (Clerk's Exhibit Form)

On or before the date and time that the trial is set to begin, the parties must supply the judge with an extra set of copies of the exhibits (working copies) that they intend to have the court consider at trial.  LCR 40 (e).  It is preferred that the working copies are in binders with numbered tabs.

NOTE: The parties must scan their own documents for sharing during the trial.  Neither the Court nor the Clerk of the Court is responsible for scanning and/or sharing documents for the parties’ use during trial.

Each party (or their attorney) must ensure that all of the witnesses they intend to call to testify have been given all of the necessary information to be able to appear remotely. This includes, but is not limited to, the Zoom hyperlink, the Zoom telephone conference call number, the meeting ID, and any necessary Zoom password. Additionally, it is the parties’ (or their attorneys’) responsibility to ensure that their witnesses have the technological means to remotely appear at the appropriate time during the trial. All witnesses must be readily available remotely during the party’s case so there is no delay in the trial.

Before the trial commences, the parties will notify the court which exhibits are agreed to without further need for authentication. LCR 40(e)(4).

Civil motions, including Community, Probate, Judge’s personal Motions, Summary Judgments, and special set hearings have resumed in-person.  If participants need to appear by Zoom, arrangements must be made prior to the court date with the Court Administrator's office.  

Ex Parte - all ex parte dockets have returned to in-person appearance. If parties cannot attend the ex parte docket, they still have the option of mailing in their documents to the County Clerk with a $30.00 ex parte fee.  

Unlawful Detainers –

Domestic Violence/Anti-Harassment will be held in-person.  If a participant needs to appear by Zoom, they will need to arrange prior approval of the court and contact the Court Administrator's office for Zoom information.    Emergency civil matters will continue to be a priority and Superior Court will hear all emergency civil matters.  As is indicated in the latest Supreme Court Order, Judicial Officers have the discretion to set hearing dates and extend temporary protection orders based on the circumstances to reasonably allow for sufficient notice, remote appearance and presentation of evidence, while avoiding unreasonable delay.  Reissuance orders may be similarly extended. 

Domestic Hearings – all family law dockets will be heard using Zoom with both telephone and video options.  In person attendance is encouraged. If appearing by Zoom, participants can:

Status Hearings – Beginning Friday, June 26, 2020, status hearings will resume using Zoom with both telephone and video options.  In person attendance is encouraged.

Paternity – will be held using Zoom with both telephone and video options.  In person attendance is encouraged.

Therapeutic Courts will be in-person.

ITA’s will be held using Zoom with both telephone and video options for all appearances.

CASE TYPE INFORMATION ON YAKIMA COUNTY JUVENILE COURT DOCKETS 

Adoptions - Adoptions are being conducted remotely using Zoom.  You can access the Adoption calendar and Zoom meeting links by visiting the Juvenile Court website.

Dependency – Dependency hearings are being conducting remotely using Zoom.  You can access the Dependency calendar and Zoom meeting links by visiting the Juvenile Court website.

YAKIMA COUNTY JUVENILE COURTROOM ONE HEARINGS 

Offender Trials – will resume as scheduled in person or remote means upon judicial approval. . 

JUVENILE OUT OF CUSTODY HEARINGS

Arraignments - will resume in person/remote hearings on June 1, 2020.  Attorneys and Respondents may appear remotely when requested. 

CSR’S – will commence in person/remote hearings on June 1, 2020.   Attorneys/Respondents may appear remotely when requested. 

Motions, Pretrials, and Plea and Sentencing Hearings – will continue in person/remote hearings.  The Court will accommodate Plea and Sentences on misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases to be done remotely when requested by defense and agreed to by the State.  Felony Plea and Sentences will be done in person.

ARY/CHINS Hearings – will continue in person/remote hearings.

Truancy Hearings – will continue in person/remote hearings. 

Diversion Termination Hearings – will continue in person/remote hearings.

JUVENILE IN-CUSTODY HEARINGS

In-Custody Hearings – All in-custody offender matters will be heard remotely until a negative COVID-19 test result is received.    The youth may appear in-person in court if requested as scheduled with strict observance of social distancing and other public health measures.  Attorneys and parents or guardians may also appear remotely when requested.  The exception will be for any youth wanting to plead guilty to a felony offense or offenses-those pleas and dispositions will be done in person with strict observance of social distancing and other public health recommendations regardless of the negative test requirement.