FAQs Answers

1. What are the hours for the Exparte department and where is it located?

Exparte matters are heard Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:30 am and from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Check with Commissioner Services for current room location. Commissioner Calendar Schedules.

2. Does my hearing have to be confirmed?

Yes. Hearings must be confirmed by noon, two (2) court days prior to the hearing date or your hearing will be cancelled.

Hearings may be confirmed by the following:

Internet (Attorneys only) at: LINX (Legal Information Network Exchange)
By Phone: Call 253-798-6697
In Person: Go to Commissioner Services Department in Room 140 of the County-City Building, Tacoma, Washington and inform them you want to confirm your hearing.

3. What happens if my hearing was not confirmed on time?

Your hearing will be cancelled and it will not be heard.

4. How do I cancel my hearing?

Hearings may be cancelled by the following:

Internet (Attorneys only) at: LINX (Legal Information Network Exchange)
By Phone: Call 253-798-6697
In Person: Go to Commissioner Services Department in Room 140 of the County-City Building, Tacoma, Washington and inform them you want to confirm your hearing.

5. Where is Commissioner Services located?

Room 140 on the first floor of the County City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South Tacoma, Washington.

6. Where do I drop off my working copies?

Working copies must be delivered to or dropped off in Commissioners Services, room 140 of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South Tacoma, Washington.

7. How do I find the courtroom my hearing will be in?

Look for the Public Monitors located listing the parties names and room number for their hearings located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the County-City Building. Look for your case name and case number. If you can not locate your case name or case number, go to Commissioner Services in Room 140.

8.How do I obtain my settlement conference hearing date?

The Order Setting Case Schedule filed on your case instructs you who to contact to schedule your Settlement Conference hearing date. If you are instructed to contact Commissioner Services, call 253-798-6697.

9.Where can I get legal forms?

Legal documents can be obtained from the Law Library located just outside the main doors on the 1st floor of the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Avenue South Tacoma, Washington.

10. How do I get assistance in filling out forms and following procedures?

You can contact the Court Facilitator by calling 253-798-3627 to schedule an appointment. The cost is $10.00.

INTERPRETER SERVICES FAQs

1. Do I have to have a court certified interpreter for a civil hearing?

Yes, RCW 2.43 requires that if a language is certified by the State of Washington the appointing authority shall appoint only certified interpreters, absent of good cause.

2. How do I get a court certified interpreter?

By calling Pierce County Interpreter Services and getting a referral or by going to www.courts.wa.gov and search 'Interpreters' following the prompts.

3. Who pays for interpreters?

For criminal cases, the court pays for the interpreter for all in-court hearings. If the defendant is indigent, the court will pay for all interviews with his/her attorney. If the defendant is not indigent, the defendant pays for the services of the interpreter when meeting with his/her attorney.

For civil cases, RCW 2.43.040(3): 'The cost of providing the interpreter shall be borne by the non-English speaking person unless such person is indigent according to adopted standards of the body. In such cases the cause shall be an administrative cost of the governmental body under the authority of which the legal proceeding is conducted.'

4. Can interpreters be used for phone interpreting?

Interpreters may be appointed to serve by telephone for brief, non evidentiary proceedings.

For further information on interpreter's issues please contact Interpreter Services at (253) 798-6091.

VISITING JUDGE FAQs

1. When will the next visiting judge be here to hear motions on a VJ case?

The visiting judges are here once a month for half-day. Please contact the Visiting Judge Coordinator at (253) 798-7287 for the exact dates from the Visiting Judge motion trade schedule.

2. Where will my trial for my VJ case be heard?

Pierce County Superior Court, County-City Building. Contact the Visiting Judge Coordinator, Room 534, 5th floor to confirm the room number for your trial as courtroom assignments often change.

3. What are upcoming dates for VJ motion trades with Kitsap County?

VJ motion dates are on the VJ motion trade schedule maintained by the Visiting Judge Coordinator, (253) 798-7287.

4. Which Kitsap County judge will be coming to hear motions on my visiting judge case next month?

The name of the Kitsap County judge will be known a day or so ahead of your hearing. Contact the Visiting Judge Coordinator at (253) 798-7287 for the judge's name at that time.

JUDGE PRO TEM PROGRAM FAQs

1. How do I go about applying for a pro tem judge position?

In October an article is published in the Bar News announcing that the Pro Tem Program is now accepting applications for the upcoming year. Applications can be picked up in Administration, Room 534 or click here for APPLICATION FORM.

2. Do you serve for 4 years?

An application must be submitted for each year.