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Why Washington Court Records are Available to the Public?
In 1972, the Washington State Legislature passed a law named the Washington Public Records Act. This law enables the last changes in 2010 and aims to make sure disclosure of court records and other public records to the public.
What Court Records Access Means To You?
The law is similar to the Washington Open Meeting Law which legislates the methods by which public meetings are held. The Washington Public Records Act intent is that all records maintained by state and local government entities be available for public access and copying.
Accountability to the Public
When the legislature enacted Washington Public Records Act, it expressively declared that access to information about the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state, Public Records Act. Indeed, in Washington, access to the government and court records, in particular, a fundamental interest in citizenship and has emphasized that maxim disclosure of the conduct of governmental operations promoted by the act. By promoting prompt public access to government records, the Washington Public Records Act is to safeguard the government's accountability to the public.
How the Washington Court Process Functions?
Most cases in Washington courts begin in one of the 39 superior or trial courts in the state’s 39 counties.
The next level of judicial authority resides with the Court of Appeals. Most cases before the Court of Appeals involves the review of a superior court decision being contested by a party involved in the case.
The Supreme Court serves as the highest court in the state to check decisions of the Court of Appeals to settle important questions of law and to resolve conflicts among the Court of Appeals.
Some differences between Civil Court and Small Claims Court below
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